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!
Faucets and 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 also to avoid 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.
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, and 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.
Toilets- Toilet
leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, 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.
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.
Garbage Disposal- You can
extend the life of your garbage disposal by:
- Using plenty of cold water when running it
- Making
sure you avoid overloading it
- Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
- Never
using a caustic drain opener.
Heating and Air Conditioning- Change your filters on a
monthly basis
- Clean and service your heating and cooling equipment twice a year
- Upgrade
old inefficient equipment to Trane high efficiency equipment
- Put your heating and air conditioning system
on an annual maintenance agreement
