As a homeowner, you probably do most of the maintenance tasks your property requires. You mow the lawn and trim the shrubs. You vacuum the carpets, sweep the hardwoods, and even run a mop every now and again. Perhaps you even make the effort to replace your furnace filters every few months. But what about plumbing maintenance?
I am guessing most homeowners never even think about plumbing when the topic of maintenance comes up. Instead, we tend not to give plumbing a second thought until something goes wrong. But how many of our plumbing problems could have been avoided through routine maintenance?
The thing about plumbing problems is their potential to lead to costly water damage. Just having a plumber come in and fix a leaky pipe is expensive enough. But the job becomes even more costly if you need to repair drywall, replace a carpet, etc.
Inspect the Plumbing
Comfort Solutions is a Sandy, Utah, HVAC and plumbing company that also services homes in West Haven. They say that the easiest and most effective maintenance task homeowners can handle is inspecting the plumbing. Regular inspections take little effort but can prevent serious problems that lead to costly water damage.
They recommend checking all pipes, fixtures, toilets, and water-using appliances – think dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers – every month or two. The idea is to look for small leaks and/or signs of moisture. Early detection can mean the difference between an easily repairable minor leak and a major leak that wreaks havoc on floors and walls.
Inspecting the Fixtures
Fixtures are common sources of small leaks. So visually inspect faucets and showerheads. If you notice a small leak, repairing it should be easy enough. A simple washer replacement normally does the trick. There are plenty of online resources explaining how to handle the repair.
Clean the Drains
Another easy maintenance task is cleaning the drains. A general rule of thumb is to clean them every month or two. At the very least, semiannual cleanings are a good idea. There are a couple of ways to handle the task.
The first is to disconnect the U-shaped trap underneath each sink in the house. Clean the traps by running water through them with a garden hose. A second option is to flush the drain with a combination of baking soda and vinegar followed by hot water.
Comfort Solutions says you should never use a chemical drain cleaner. Off-the-shelf drain cleaners are extremely hard on plumbing. Moreover, they do not always work well.
Flush the Water Heater
A more advanced plumbing maintenance task is flushing the water heater. It is not especially hard, and it probably won’t be much of a challenge after you have done it once. Once again, there are plenty of online resources explaining how to do it. Flushing the water heater annually removes sediment and sludge, extending the life of the unit and reducing the risk of corrosion and ultimate failure.
Check the Toilets
Although there are other maintenance tasks for exterior plumbing, I will conclude this post with a recommendation to check the toilets in your house. Check the water connection for leaks and the bowl and tank for cracks. Any damage to the bowl or tank is sufficient reason to replace it. As for connection leaks, they are as easy a fix as the previously mentioned leaky fixtures.
Routine plumbing maintenance does two things: it keeps your plumbing in good working order and alerts you to minor problems. Oh yeah, it also saves money by preventing problems that lead to costly water damage.