Easy ways to maintain your homes pipes
There are many pieces hidden behind the walls that keep a home running without issue. Without being able to see these important systems of pipes, wires, vents, and appliance parts, it can be easy to assume everything is fine, and that they’ll keep running the same way. However, the best way to ensure anything keeps running at peak efficiency, and to avoid any nasty breakdowns at the worst possible moment, those hidden pieces need to be properly treated and maintained. Instead of tackling everything all at once and getting overwhelmed, let’s focus on the key, easy ways to keep your home pipes maintained and clean.
Reduce the Chance of Clogs
A proactive way to avoid some major plumbing issues is to watch what goes down the kitchen and bathroom drains. Make sure oils, fats, and grease never get put down any drain, as they solidify and cause major blockages. Hair, hygiene products, plastics, and starchy foods should all also be thrown away to avoid potential pipe clogs. One helpful item to have on hand is a sink strainer that can sit in the sink while doing dishes, or while using the bathroom sink and shower. These strainers will catch any debris before it finds its way into the drain, and can be emptied after using the sink.
It’s also important to keep sinks clean. Make sure any lingering debris that does slip into a drain is emptied out at least weekly. Lifting up the pop-tops of most bathroom drains will allow the hair and gunk that builds up to be cleaned out and wiped away. After the drain openings have been cleaned out, mix a solution of baking powder and vinegar together to pour down the drains for an easy, natural de-clogging agent. This solution won’t clear solid or significant blockages, but it will help breakdown small clogs that are in the process of forming, as well as reduce potential lingering odors in the drain.
Repair Leaks Immediately
While looking at faucets and the pipes below the sink, keep an eye out for excessive dripping or signs of leaking. These small signs of a leak can be easily taken care of if caught early on, but if left to develop over time, they can create massive pipe problems and major damage. It’s also a good idea to do a walk-through of every room, scoping out ceilings and floors for signs of wet spots or pooling water. These are immediate signs that something is either dripping unnecessarily or, worse yet, that a leak has sprung in the walls. Both of these issues should be addressed immediately by calling a plumbing professional to conduct a thorough inspection and correct the problem.
Schedule Annual Maintenance Checks
There are many issues that homeowners can catch themselves, but to truly get an idea of how healthy a home’s pipes are, it’s best to call in a professional plumber to take a look. Much like watching for leaks on a more specialized scale, having a home’s plumbing inspecting annually — even when there isn’t an immediate issue present — will help catch potential issues before they balloon into massive emergencies. While the standard is to have an annual maintenance check, those with much older pipes and older sewer main hookups may want to consider more frequent checks — every 3 to 6 months — as older systems are more likely to wear down over time, and require more maintenance in general.
Maintaining healthy pipes is all about being proactive and aware. As long as homeowners are on top of what is going down the drains, making sure that no leaks are arising, and that the pipes have a clean bill of health signed-off by a licensed professional, then they can say they’re doing the best they can to have happy, clean pipes. If something seems amiss with a drain, if a sudden leak has sprung, or if it’s just that time for an inspection, consider reaching out to the plumbing pros at Duane Blanton Family Home Services. The licensed experts at Duane Blanton have over 30 years of experience tackling the toughest plumbing problems, and they can most certainly help you. Give the experts at Duane Blanton a call, at (815) 781-2567, or reach them online through their online scheduling portal from the convenience of your phone or laptop.
