Unexpected plumbing problems are frustrating and rather messy to deal with. The best way you can prevent these problems is to keep your plumbing system as well maintained as possible. To help you out, the pros at MA Williams have prepared a handy plumbing checklist to guide you in monthly plumbing maintenance.
1. Check for Leaks
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons lost every year. To prevent excess water loss like this and to save on your water bill, make sure you inspect your home for leaks. Specifically check your sinks and faucets in your kitchen. In your bathroom, make sure you inspect your toilet, sink, showerhead and bathtub. There are various ways to check leaks in your home—follow this guide to learn how!
2. Don’t Flush Anything but Toilet Paper!
Most toilet clogs can easily be prevented by simply avoiding putting foreign objects down the toilet. Only human waste and toilet paper should go into the toilet. Even flushable wipes shouldn’t go in the toilet, because they take longer to break apart, according to Consumer Reports.
3. Be Careful What You Put in Your Garbage Disposal
Just like you should be careful what you put in the toilet, you should be careful what goes in the garbage disposal. Make sure you don’t put these items in your disposal: grease, coffee grounds, pasta, stringy vegetables, large animal bones and eggshells. You can put smaller amounts of small bones, cooked meat, ice and veggie scraps down the disposal. Make sure you clean it often using baking soda, vinegar and some running water.
4. Professional Maintenance
DIY plumbing maintenance is great, but it can only go so far. Ultimately, it is best to have a plumber come in once a year and do a thorough inspection of your plumbing system. This way, you can prevent major plumbing problems and expensive issues in the long run.
5. Inspect Your Drains
Take a moment to look in your bathtub drain and make sure its clean and lacking in buildup. If you notice anything like hair or soap scum, you can either use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and equal parts baking soda to clear it out. If you notice the buildup is near the surface of the drain, you can use a gloved hand to pull it out. To prevent hair from clogging up your drain, you can use a hair-catcher. This object, which resembles a plastic or metal sieve, is to be placed over the opening of the drain. Any hair or even small foreign objects that go into the drain will be caught by this hair catcher.
Do you have any more questions about our plumbing checklist? Get in touch with the pros at MA Williams! Call us today at 804-250-5625 or schedule a service with us on our website! We can help you with a variety of plumbing services such as drain cleaning, faucet repair, water line repair, troubleshooting leaks and much more!
