Home Plumbing Resolutions!

As 2022 comes to an end, perhaps it is time to consider some ‘Home Plumbing Resolutions’ to keep things flowing in 2023!

Toilet Maintenance:
Anything with moving parts breaks or wears down over time – that includes the moving parts of your toilet. Save water and avoid problems later with good toilet maintenance this year.
• To ensure your toilet is working properly, perform a quick and easy dye test. Start with a clean water tank and toilet bowl – there should be no cleaning products or tablets in the toilet.
• Add dark food coloring, Kool-Aid or dye from a dye test kit to the tank on the back of the toilet (the darker the dye the better and you want to get the water as dark as possible)
• Allow the toilet to sit for at least 15-30min without being flushed (it is often best to do this at night before going to bed or in the morning when you leave for the day. The longer the toilet is unused, the better)
• After the time has passed, check your toilet and if the water in the bowl has changed colors, then you have a slight leak from the flapper in the tank into the bowl – that is your sign to give us a call and repair it for you

-Does your toilet rock and make a loud “thunk” when you sit on it making you feel like you are going to end up on the floor? Once you’ve had the chance to catch your breath from the scare of possibly falling, give us a call. Chances are the flange holding your toilet in place has come lose or is broken and that will potentially cause a leak in the floor creating an even bigger problem
-Are you finding yourself holding the handle down or jiggling/shaking it like it owes you money just to complete a flush? Does your toilet seem to take an excessive amount of time to fill after flushing? There is a chance that the “guts” in your toilet tank needs to be adjusted or replaced – call us and we will have one of our potty-trained plumbers out to get that under control.

Water Heater Maintenance:
In a perfect world, your water heater could last between 10-15 years; however, without proper maintenance, many fail after 5-6 years. Let’s be honest, your water heater isn’t going to be kind enough to fail or spring a geyser while you are home, it will wait until you leave for that week of vacation or have your whole extended family over for the holidays. An annual flush and all-around check to make sure all the parts are functioning well can help you avoid cold showers, swimming hole in your basement, and extend the life of your water heater.

Drain Maintenance:
-This year, take steps to prevent clogs before they happen. Mesh screens or strainers in your sinks, tub/shower drains, etc., will catch debris from going down the drain getting clogged in your p-trap. Do not put anything down the drain or toilet that doesn’t belong (i.e. grease, baby wipes, razors, etc.), and use non-corrosive, septic-friendly bacterial drain cleaners regularly.
NOTE: just because it says it’s a flushable wipe, doesn’t mean you should flush it. A small trash can with one of your many plastic grocery bags that you have stored in another grocery bag in the corner of your pantry is the perfect place for those and you will be thankful for it later.
-Do you notice an odor from your frequently sink, tub or shower drain?
• Pack baking soda down the drain – enough to get down to the p-trap (about 1/2 cup)
• Pour white distilled vinegar down the drain – and just like that volcano in 6th grade science class, you will have an eruption of non-toxic fizzy bubbles erupt from the drain and possibly some dirt and grime particles that were stuck to the lining of the drain
• Follow that up with some hot water to wash it all down and from there you may notice a difference
This process is not harmful to your plumbing and can be done at least once a month as part of your regular deep cleaning routine.

Garbage Disposal Maintenance
A garbage disposal can be a great asset in your kitchen but can also be a gateway for issues. Proper maintenance will also prevent a clog in your kitchen sink drain.
Keep your disposal in good working order by not putting eggshells, coffee grounds or any grease/fat down the drain as well as that wayward butter knife that could make its way in. Stick to small, soft foods and cold water while it’s running.
Foul odor coming from your disposal? Skip the chemicals and keep some orange and lemon peels in the freezer – drop them down the disposal and you’ll have it smelling fresh in no time!
Disposal not turning on when you flip the switch? First, check the breaker in the breaker box and then look for the little red reset button on the bottom of the disposal. If that still doesn’t get it working, give us call.

Faucet Maintenance
Just like the filter in your AC unit, the little filter or ‘aerator’ in your sink faucets and shower heads can also get full of tiny particles restricting the flow of water and get pretty icky.
1. Turn off the water supply to your kitchen sink via the valves in the cabinet beneath it.
2. Remove the aerator from the faucet by unscrewing it. You may be able to do it by hand, but you can also use a wrench or pliers (cover with electrical tape first to prevent scratches)
3. Use a (clean) toothbrush and water to scrub any debris from the aerator, ensuring the holes in the screen are completely clear.
4. If any calcium has accumulated on the aerator, soak it in white vinegar overnight.
5. Rinse and reassemble.

Have a question about how to maintain the plumbing in your home? Feel free to call at 770-967-1119 or email us at service@callrobertsplumbing.com
We want to thank all of our customers for a great year and wish you all a safe and very happy new year – looking forward to 2023!