Plumbing Tips & FAQs
An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s plumbing in top working order – and you’ll avoid costly repairs!
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How can I maintain faucets & sinks?
- Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water and water damage to your fixtures and pipes.
- Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
- Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
How can I maintain my water heater?
- Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power and read your owner’s manual.
- At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Over time, sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance. Draining a gallon or so helps remove the sediment.
- You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
- At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage and the anode rods for corrosion.
How can I check if my toilet is leaking?
Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball. You should check for leaks in your toilet at least once a year.
How should I deal with clogs?
- To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.
- Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
- Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.
What causes my kitchen sink and washing machine drains to clog?
Using filters and strainers will help, but you’ll also need to get the drains snaked periodically as well.
Should I close and open the main water supply shutoff valve periodically?
Why do I hear a vibrating noise in my pipes?
Noises can be fairly common in plumbing supply lines. If a washer in a faucet or valve is loose, you’ll hear it rattling or knocking. If the sound occurs when you open and close faucets rapidly, it generally means pipes are loose, and can be corrected by anchoring pipes more securely. If it really bothers you, you can add air chambers at the end of long pipe runs. Their installation will probably require a plumbing professional.
What can I do about a sewer line blockage?
Are caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) harmful to pipes?
For minor clogs, they’re fine, but never use them on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so. Never use caustic drain openers in a drain that has a garbage disposal.
What should I do if my garbage disposal stops working?
Before calling a professional, be sure to try the reset switch located on the bottom of most disposals.