Quality plumbing should be the top priority on your list while taking care of your home.
Every homeowner will experience plumbing problems at some point in a lifetime. These problems can be quite costly and can cause a lot of inconvenience. Hence, you need to have some basic knowledge about plumbing systems.
Knowing about the few essential components of your home plumbing system can help to avoid some minimal plumbing problems.
The post lists 13 proven tips for quality plumbing. So you can keep on reading this article for more information.
What Are The 13 Proven Tips For Quality Plumbing?
Does your plumbing system leave you fully stressed? Leaking faucets and clogged drains can turn your relaxing bath into a battlefield.
Now you need to take the help of a plumber. Plumbing repairs can cost you almost $175 to $500. If you have major plumbing issues, then it may cost you more.
It’s wise to take care of the quality of the plumbing system at home. It may be a daunting task for you if you have not handled any plumbing equipment before.
However, there are a few simple things to keep your drains, faucets, and pipes in good working condition and prevent major plumbing issues.
I am listing below 13 proven tips for quality plumbing. Let’s discuss them below.
1. Learn How To Fix Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are one of the significant problems at home. Hence, you need to know how to fix it.
The drains at your home can get clogged for numerous reasons. I am listing some reasons below.
- Food particles and grease may accumulate in the kitchen sink drain.
- Soap scum or hair may accumulate in your bathroom sink drain.
You need to clean and unclog your drain as it causes much inconvenience. But I recommend you do not use any harsh drain cleaner first. You need to first use a plunger for cleaning. You can opt for a drain snake if the plunger does not work. It will allow you to pull out whatever traps are in the drain.
Baking soda and vinegar can even help clear your house’s pipes and drains. You can pour some baking soda into the drain of your home. You can then follow it up with vinegar until all the baking soda completely dissolves or the reaction stops permanently.
If you still cannot fix it, it’s wise to call a local plumber. The plumber can clean and unclog the drain.
To avoid future clogging issues, you can use a drain cover. It will trap the food particles, hair, and other debris and prevent them from flowing into the drain.
2. Know The Location Of Your Shut Off Valve
Most of the waterlines in your home are connected to shut-off valves. Hence, you should know its position, especially during a plumbing emergency or a significant leak.
The main work of the shut-off valve is to stop the water supply immediately. It is usually blue or red to indicate a hot or cold water line.
Shut-off valves are usually circle or lever-shaped and present mainly near hot water tanks or outside your building, i.e., in the basement or garage.
Plumbing components in your home, like toilet and sink, have their shut-off valve. So, if there is any leakage in the bathroom, you can operate the shut-off valve to stop the water supply.
You don’t need to close the main shut-off valve, which usually connects to various waterlines in your home.
3. Test The Water Pressure
Sometimes, you observe a sudden drop in water pressure. It can be because of either a significant demand for other faucets or some plumbing issues.
You will find a pressure-regulating valve in most homes. The main work of this valve is to regulate the water pressure to a safe level in the pipes at your home. It can malfunction when the debris starts to accumulate over time. Sometimes, the pipes get corroded or have clogs.
So, if you notice lower pressure in only the pipe of your home, then look for clogs. If you cannot find then it’s better to call your local plumber.
4. Use Your Toilets Properly
Toilets are meant to dispose of waste and toilet paper. But they are not meant to dispose of plastic or paper towels. So I recommend allowing only toilet paper and waste into your toilet bowl. It will prevent the pipes from getting clogged.
Another thing to consider is how much and what kind of toilet paper you are throwing in the toilet bowl. Most house owners use thick toilet paper. Throwing the thick toilet paper in the bowl takes a long time to degrade and has more chances of clogging.
5. Check For Toilet Leaks
Are you running your toilet constantly? If yes, then there is a high chance of leakage.
Well, you can easily do a leakage test at home.
Take some food coloring and put a few drops in the toilet tank. You have to then wait for 20-25 minutes.
Now, check your toilet bowl to see if you find any food coloring inside the bowl. Your toilet has leakage, and you need to repair it.
I will suggest you do some research online and find out which component in your toilet is leaking. You can purchase the component and fix it by yourself. But if you are uncomfortable with that, you can call your local plumber.
6. Insulate Plumbing Components
Frozen pipes can cause extensive damage to your plumbing system. So you need to find ways to prevent it.
You must insulate the plumbing components so that they will work efficiently. For example, insulate the pipes, especially in cold areas, to prevent the water from freezing. You can use foam, rubber, or fiberglass to prevent pipes from insulating.
Now, insulating hot water pipes will keep the water heated and help reduce your electricity bills.
7. Use Your Garbage Disposal Properly
A garbage disposal can make your life relatively simple.But it can create plumbing issues. Not all food items are safe for garbage disposal.
You need to avoid certain food items strictly into the garbage disposal. They are as follows.
- Coffee grounds
- Meat
- Nuts, seeds, and pits.
- Potato peels
- Onion layers
- Eggshells
- Pasta
- Bread rice
8. Clean Your Shower Head From Time To Time
Do you live in an area where hard water usually comes from your pipelines and shower? If yes, then the minerals in the hard water can block your shower head. It will reduce the water pressure from the shower. So you need to clean the shower head from time to time.
I recommend removing the shower head and dipping it in the vinegar solution for almost 30 minutes. It will help in removing all the minerals that have blocked your shower head.
9. Check Your Pipes
You must check your pipes regularly, especially if you are going on holiday. Remember, a burst pipe can cause a lot of damage. Look for cracks, drips, or rust signs while checking the pipe. If you notice any of them, you must fix them as soon as possible.
10. Keep An Eye On Water Leaks
It is estimated that around 10,000 gallons of water are wasted every year. Ten per cent of homes in the United States have water leakage problems. The leakage accounts for approximately 70 gallons of water daily, which is relatively high. So I recommend you look for water leakage.
Water can leak from various places. Some of the common areas include
- Sink
- Behind toilets
- Around dishwasher
- Exposed waterlines.
11. Inspect The Water heater
No one likes cold water showers. You need to keep an eye on your house’s water heater. You need to check for leakage around the bottom of the water heater. Weird noise can come from inside of the water heater with time. If you listen to such noise, you must address it immediately.
If you have a traditional tank water heater, you need to do servicing within one year.
12. Paint All The Exposed Pipes
You need to paint all the pipes that are exposed to sunlight. It will avoid pipeline damage and ensure a longer life of the product.
13. Call A Plumber For Major Plumbing Issues
If you have major plumbing problems, it’s good to call a plumber.
Conclusion
Steady drips from the kitchen sink or pies can cause background noise and water leakage. You need to check leakage from the pipes within a periodic interval and try to fix it as soon as possible.
I have listed 13 proven tips for quality plumbing and hope the information is helpful.
