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By far one of the hardest parts about being a homeowner is taking good care of your plumbing system. There are so many things that can go wrong when it comes to plumbing, but so many of them are preventable if you take the time to do a little preventative maintenance. If you want to keep the plumbing system in your Knoxville, TN, home in good shape and avoid calling a plumber, here are 8 tips to help you.
1. Keep Drains Clean
One important thing if you want to prevent plumbing problems is keeping your drains free of clogs. A clogged drain can cause a wide range of issues, from leaks in pipes to sewage backups. The good news is, you can avoid calling a plumber for drain clogs by simply being careful about what you’re flushing down the drain. If you do notice your drains starting to get a bit clogged, you should either call a drain cleaning service or use a plunger and drain cleaner to try to remove the clog on your own.
2. Avoid Hard Water
Have you ever heard of the term “hard water”? This refers to water that has a high mineral content, which might not sound like the worst thing. However, that high mineral content means this water tends to leave a residue in fixtures and appliances, which can cause corrosion that leads to a lot of problems. You can avoid having to deal with hard water by having a plumber install a water softener in your home, or you can simply install a water-softening device on the appropriate fixtures.
3. Watch Your Bill
The last thing you want is to have to spend a fortune on your water bill, so you should keep an eye on it. However, it’s even more important to keep an eye on your water bill because it can be such a good indicator that you’ve got a plumbing problem. If you haven’t changed the size of your household or your water usage habits but your water bill is suddenly much higher than normal, have a professional check things out. It could be that you’ve got a silent problem such as a small leak or a running toilet that’s causing a lot of water waste each month.
4. Prevent Burst Pipes
Another thing you need to do if you want to minimize the amount of plumbing damage you have to deal with is try your best to prevent burst pipes. Burst pipes can cause a ton of water damage and leave you with a massive water bill, so preventing them should always be a priority. The good news is, preventing burst pipes is as simple as taking the time to have a plumber look at your plumbing system and insulate problem pipes. If you have pipes that are especially susceptible to freezing, you might want to have them wrapped in heat tape.
5. Locate Your Shutoff Valve
When you have a major problem with your plumbing system, the last thing you want is to let water freely flow into your home and cause as much damage as it can. The best thing you can do to prevent water damage while you wait for a plumber to arrive at your home is to shut off the water. Every home is equipped with a main water shutoff valve that allows you to quickly cut the supply of water to your home, so make sure you know where yours is ahead of time.
6. Look Out for Leaks
Leaks can be one of the hardest plumbing problems to spot, especially if they’re occurring in a spot where you don’t normally look. However, there are also some telltale signs that you’ve got a leak which are pretty easy to spot. If you ever notice a brown or yellow spot on a piece of drywall in your home, that’s a good indicator that you have a leak. You may also smell mold or mildew near the leak. If you suspect you have a leak in your home, make sure you call a plumber right away to prevent water damage.
7. Keep Up with Maintenance
Most people don’t think about having plumbing maintenance done, but that’s an important part of making sure your plumbing system is in good shape. From having the pipes checked on to having your drains cleaned, there are a lot of little things you can have a professional do to keep your plumbing working. You can even have somebody flush out your water heater tank to remove the sediment so it lasts longer. If you want to prevent problems, every little bit of maintenance helps.
8. Recognize Emergencies
One of the things you need to be able to do as a homeowner is recognize plumbing emergencies. Whether a pipe bursts in your home, there’s a sewage backup or your home is flooding, knowing when to call an emergency service which will arrive quicker is crucial. When you do call these emergency services, make sure you take the time to shut off your water so you can minimize the damage while you wait for help.
Call Today
Making sure your home isn’t susceptible to any major plumbing problems can be a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. If you want to keep your plumbing system in better shape, having a plumber help with maintenance, repairs and advice goes a long way.
If you’re looking for help taking care of the plumbing system in your Knoxville, TN, home, look no further than My Professional Plumber. From preventing plumbing problems to fixing them, we can do it all. If you need a little help preventing problems in your plumbing system, call My Professional Plumber to schedule a service appointment today.