An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s plumbing in top working order – and
you’ll avoid costly repairs!
Faucets and Sinks
Even small drips can waste
thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And
always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures
and pipes.
Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
Make
sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
Water
Heater
Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and
read your owner's manual.
At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Over time
sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance, and draining a gallon or so helps remove the sediment.
You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue
with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous
situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
At least once every two years, have your water heater
inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for
corrosion
Toilets
Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year,
check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later.
If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the
tank ball.
Clogs
To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a
strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.
Do not rinse fats or cooking
oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
Avoid using caustic
liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped
in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional
to do so.
Garbage Disposal
You can extend the life of your garbage disposal by:
Using plenty of cold water when running it
Making sure you avoid overloading it
Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
