One of the most important aspects of your home that requires regular maintenance is your plumbing system. Without proper maintenance, you can end up with expensive repair bills, water damage, and other plumbing disasters. The good news is, you can prevent many plumbing problems with proper maintenance.
1. FIT LEAKY FAUCETS
If you don’t fix a leaky faucet right away, it can become a huge plumbing issue. Those tiny drops of water coming out of the faucet add up quickly. The result is large amounts of water waste and a high water bill.
Some of the primary causes of leaky faucets include:
The O-ring, which helps seal the faucet, has become loose or worn out
An accumulation of water sediments has caused the valve seat to corrode
2. STOP RUNNING TOILETS
Like a leaky faucet, a running toilet may seem like a minor annoyance. However, a toilet that continues to run after you flush it, wastes a lot of water. Also, a running toilet doesn’t flush as well, which increases the chances of waste blockages in your bathroom’s pipes.
Some of the most common causes of a running toilet include:
The toilet has a leak
The flapper seal or flush valve is broken
The tank has too much or too little water
The fill valve is in need of replacement
The toilet handle is old or corroded
The toilet chain inside the tank is broken
A running toilet is usually an easy fix, but if you can’t do it yourself, contact a plumber.
3. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DRAINS
Do the drains in your sinks, tubs, or showers drain too slowly? If so, it most likely means you have clogged drains. Some of the most common culprits for clogged drains include:
Hair
Soap
Food waste
Mineral buildup
Small objects
Tree roots
If you lose a lot of hair in the shower, get a special guard for your shower drain that catches the hair. To keep food waste from clogging your drains, never use your sink or garbage disposal as a trash can.
4. CHECK THE WATER PRESSURE
You can check whether your water pressure is too high or too low with a water pressure gauge. To do this, hook the water pressure gauge up to a faucet. Check your baseline water pressure by turning off all the faucets. The water pressure should be between 30 and 80 psi.
If your water pressure is too low, you’ll need more time to fill the tub, take a shower, or wash dishes.
5. DRAIN THE WATER HEATER
Another important part of your plumbing that you don’t want to overlook is your water heater. You should drain your water heater on a regular basis. This will get rid of sediment that builds up in the bottom of the water heater. If you do not drain the sediment, your water heater will not work as efficiently. If the water heater has a lot of sediment, it might stop working altogether.
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