Here’s a fun exercise – tomorrow morning when you wake up, start keeping a tally of every time you use your home’s Protect Your Plumbing . That’s every flush, shower, hand washing, glass of tap water, and so on. Ok, maybe it’s not how you’d choose to keep yourself occupied, but if you were to do so, you’d quickly see how heavily you rely on all those pipes, connections, and fixtures.
And because a plumbing system works so hard for you and your family, shouldn’t you reward it with a little TLC? Sure, some mishaps are bound to happen, but taking important precautions can ward off serious damage and costly repairs.
Here are plumbing practices you’d do well to scrap.
Ignoring washing machine hoses.
The hoses on your dishwasher or washing machine aren’t meant to last a lifetime. In fact, they last about 5 years before they start to show signs of wear. Prevent an indoor flood by inspecting accessible hoses regularly and replacing them every 5 years or so or if they appear damaged.
Relying on the quick fix to clear clogs.
If you reach for that bottle of liquid drain cleaner every time you have a slow-moving drain, you could be doing more harm than good. These cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can damage pipes and fittings and are only marginally effective at best.
Flushing unflushables down the toilet.
Paper towels, cotton swabs, hair, cigarette butts, and so-called “flushable wipes” should never be tossed in the toilet. This is a sure way to cause an obstruction, tough clog, and a costly repair bill.
Taking the DIY approach.
You don’t need to call a licensed plumber for every little thing but tackling a project that’s out of your league can lead to disaster. When in doubt, hire it out and save yourself the headache and expense of a job done wrong.
Sending FOG down the drain. Fat, oil, and grease may belong on a skillet, but they certainly don’t belong in a drain where they can coat pipes and build up over time, resulting in a nasty clog. Instead, pour FOG into a glass jar or empty coffee can, seal the lid securely, and dispose of it in the trash.
Taking a toilet cleaning shortcut. A drop-in toilet freshener may sound like a great toilet-cleaning hack, but the chlorine inside a common tablet can corrode gaskets and washers once it melts and damage the internal workings of the tank. You’re better off using a little elbow grease to keep the bowl sparkling clean.
Not taking winter precautions. Protect pipes from freezing, and ultimately bursting, by insulating those that run along exterior walls or in unheated areas. Also, disconnect garden hoses and shut off exterior faucets.
Maxing out your water heater. The average lifespan for a tank-style water heater is 8 to 12 years, while a tankless model can push 20 years. Waiting until a water heater fails puts you at risk of a costly and damaging leak. Check the age on yours and look for signs that it might be nearing the end, like knocking sounds and a drop in water temperature.
Still, all the TLC in the world can’t permanently prevent plumbing problems. It’s for all those times you can turn to Norhio Plumbing. Ongoing preventive maintenance, high-quality repairs, new installations – we do it all, and always with your satisfaction guaranteed.
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