Best Practices on Maintaining Your Home’s Plumbing

Your family’s home is your biggest investment. As such, you should be doing all you can to keep all vital appliances, systems, and lines maintained and in good working order. This includes your home’s plumbing. Routine plumbing maintenance includes more than simply changing a showerhead every few years or scrubbing your sink or toilet bowl to keep things fresh.

With May being recognized as National Home Improvement Month, we would like to take this opportunity to share some tips for staying proactive and making sure your home’s plumbing stays in tip-top shape.

Toilet maintenance

Toilets don’t require a lot of hands-on maintenance. However, you should make sure the unit is working properly so you don’t experience clogs, overflows, or leaks. Only flush toilet paper and waste – NEVER flush paper towels, women’s hygiene products, makeup remover, diapers, cotton balls, etc.

If you notice moisture on the floor around the base of the toilet, this could indicate a leak. Many toilet leaks can be easily taken care of by a professional plumber, and this is an issue that should be fixed before your floor and cabinetry are ruined from water damage.

Drain and garbage disposal maintenance

Sink drains
When it comes to maintaining your home’s sink and garbage disposal drains, it’s important to realize that you shouldn’t treat them like a trash can! This means that you shouldn’t dump food, egg shells, cigarettes, expandable items (diapers, sanitary pads, cotton balls, etc.), bones, hair, paper towels, makeup remover towelettes, or cooking oils down into these drains. These items are notorious for causing serious clogs.

If you do experience a clog with one of these drains, do NOT use store-bought chemical “clog removers” to take care of the problem. These harsh chemicals could potentially strip away the lining inside your pipes and cause serious damage. Instead, try to use a plunger to remove the clog. If this doesn’t work, contact a professional plumber for assistance.

Shower/tub drains
To prevent soap scum and hair from causing problems with your shower or tub drain, you can purchase a drain-grate that can be placed over the opening. After bathing, simply toss the collected hair into the trash and rinse out the soap scum in your sink. This could help prevent plumbing issues in the future.

Garbage disposals
To keep your garbage disposal running efficiently, only place appropriate items into the unit. To keep it smelling fresh, make it a habit to pour vinegar down the sink, or grind ice or cut-up lemon bits monthly. If this doesn’t remove any foul odors coming from the disposal, you may need to call in a plumber to determine if the unit needs to be emptied or replaced.

Washing machine maintenance

Your family depends on the washing machine for fresh, clean clothes. You should periodically check water hoses for bulging, cracking, or leaks. If you notice any deterioration of the lines, they may need to be replaced.

Additionally, be sure you are not overloading the unit or using more detergent than necessary. This could potentially cause premature wear and tear on your appliance and may also leave residue on your clothing.

Water heater maintenance

Maintaining this vital home appliance is best left to the experts. A professional will be able to flush the water heater to get rid of built-up sediment in the bottom of the tank. This sediment needs to be removed periodically so it doesn’t cause extra strain on your unit when it’s heating water.

Additionally, a professional may be able to diagnose and treat causes of leaks, as well as replace the anode rod in the unit to prevent corrosion of the tank.

Plumbing maintenance calendar for homeowners

To help you with preventing potential plumbing disasters, we’ve compiled lists for you to follow every month, every six months, and every year.

Every month

• Check all drains to be sure water is flowing freely. If you see water pooling up, it could indicate a clog in your sink, tub, or shower.

• Check for leaks under sinks, around toilet bowls, or with showerheads.

• Flush toilets and run water in sinks for bathrooms you may not use often, such as in guest bedrooms or the basement.

• Look for any signs of potential mold or mildew growth.

• Clean your garbage disposal. Add a few ice cubes, vinegar, baking soda, or even small lemon pieces to the unit and run it for a few minutes with the water on. This will clean the disposal and make it smell fresh.

• Test your refrigerator’s ice maker and check for any leaks or odd-smelling water. Now is a great time to replace the filter, as well.

• Check washing machine hoses for bulging or cracking. If you notice any issues, the hoses may need to be replaced.

Every six months

• Check for signs or corrosion or lime scale buildup around showerheads, faucets, or around the base of your toilet bowl. These could be indications that your pipes are experiencing deterioration.

• Remove the lid from your toilet tank(s) and visually check to be sure everything seems to be intact and in working order. If you notice deterioration of rubber components, such as the flapper, it may be time for replacement.

• Inspect the caulking around your showers, tubs, sinks, and toilet bowls. If additional caulking needs to be added, replace it with waterproof silicone materials.

Every year

• Have a professional plumber test your water pressure. Water pressure that’s too high could cause damage to your pipes, and water pressure that’s too low can be annoying.

• Have your water heater inspected by a professional to be sure it isn’t leaking, rusting, or experiencing any other issues. He or she may also flush the unit and replace the anode rod, if necessary. The anode rod’s job is to keep your unit from rusting.

• Have a professional test your water shut-off valves to be sure they are working properly.

A few extra plumbing tips…

You should know where the shut-off valves are for your sinks, toilets, washing machine, and showers. During an emergency, if you’re able to quickly shut the water off, this may help to prevent damage. It’s also helpful to know what material was used in the water lines at your home. Iron pipes may eventually corrode, and these are common in homes built before the 1970s. Additionally, clay pipes could suffer from deterioration over time.

Keep a plumbing kit ready for use should you need it for small repair jobs, such as unclogging a toilet. The kit should have a plunger, pipe wrench, a snaking tool, and gloves ready for use. However, keep in mind that if you aren’t comfortable tackling these types of jobs, call in a professional.

Plumbing emergency? Call a professional.

Sooner or later you will likely experience some sort of plumbing emergency in your home. If your bathroom is flooding from an overflowing toilet or you’re dealing with a broken/burst pipe under a sink it’s time to contact a trained, experienced plumber to diagnose and fix the problem.

Unless you are a professional plumber yourself, you may be doing more harm than good if you attempt to fix the issue(s) on your own. Save yourself the trouble and go straight to the experts.

Want extra help protecting your home’s plumbing?

American Water Resources offers a wide variety of comprehensive protection plans specifically suited to your plumbing system, water/sewer lines, and more. Visit AWRUSA.com to learn more.