In an ideal world, everything in our homes would last forever. It’d never break down, wear out, or rust. Unfortunately, this isn’t an ideal world. All of your home fixtures and appliances will need to be repaired or replaced eventually. That includes your home plumbing fixtures.
Obviously, you want to avoid the cost and stress of major plumbing projects like repiping your whole home for as long as possible. To avoid that, we recommend following these plumbing care tips instead! There’s no magic secret to any of these, just some regular maintenance and a little bit of clever thinking. Follow these tips diligently, however, and you’ll be amazed at how much longer you can keep your plumbing working.
Pay attention to what you flush.
We’re talking about any drain here, including the ones in your toilets and kitchen sink. Nothing damages drain pipes like flushing things that don’t belong down them. Never flush things like grease, baby wipes, hair, coffee grounds, rice, and feminine hygiene products down your drains.
Each of these products and products like them are leading causes of home drain clogs. Clogs aren’t just an inconvenience, either; they can also seriously damage your plumbing. The best way to avoid clogs is simply to pay more attention to what you’re flushing down your drains.
Make sure your water pressure isn’t too high.
High water pressure feels good to some people, but if it’s too high it might hurt your pipes. When water courses through your pipes too forcefully, it can create punctures and fractures. Over time, these little damages develop into more significant leaks.
An average home’s water pressure is between 40 and 85 psi. If you suspect your water pressure might be too high, you can test it yourself using a pressure gauge. If you find out your pressures is higher than 85 psi, call in a plumber for help. We can install a pressure reducer to bring your water pressure back down to safe levels.
Don’t use chemical drain cleaners.
Chemical drain cleaners are always a no-no. Sure, they’ll eat away at drain clogs… but they’ll also eat away at the pipes themselves! Using chemical drain cleaners regularly eats away at your pipes over time.
Eventually, the acid in the cleaner will wear holes, fractures, and leaks straight through your pipes. We recommend plunging, snaking, or professional drain cleaning instead. We can clear out your pipes without hurting them in the process.
Install a water softener.
Everyone who doesn’t have a water softener probably should. Hard water doesn’t just damage your skin, hair, and clothes, It also wears down the plumbing it flows through. Hard water contains minerals like calcium and potassium. These minerals chip away at pipes, build up as scum on fixtures, and react with metal to spur corrosion.
Installing a water softener reduces the mineral content inside your home’s water. Soft water is easier on skin, hair, clothes, pipes, and fixtures. Installing a water softener will help make your water easier on your whole home’s plumbing system.
Schedule regular maintenance check-ups.
When it comes to taking care of anything, being proactive is always better than being reactive. Plumbing is absolutely no exception to this rule. It costs much less to keep up with regular plumbing maintenance than it does to fix major plumbing damage.
Whether you’re looking for low-key maintenance help or you need major plumbing repair, Pink Plumber has you covered. We’re always available, and always a call away. Let us help you keep your plumbing working great!
