Your home's plumbing is probably not something that you think about too much on a regular basis. As long as water emerges from the faucet or shower when you turn it on and the toilet flushes adequately most of the time, it can seem like your plumbing system is sufficient. The key to avoiding small plumbing problems that can quickly grow into large ones, though, is to make sure you follow these three tips.
Avoid Plumbing Problems
1. Be aware of what goes down your pipes
In the kitchen, be sure that hot grease doesn't get poured down the drain. Though it flows reasonably well when it's hot, cooking grease invariably hardens to a solid mass as it cools and this can clog your kitchen pipes quickly.
Your toilet is not a catch-all receptacle for personal hygiene products, cotton balls, cigarette butts and the like. Keep any items, except for materials that are designed to be used in a plumbing system, out of your toilet. This goes for those personal hygiene wipes as well. Even though they claim to be safe for plumbing systems, this is often not the case. Using them can lead to clogs and calls to emergency plumbers in the middle of the night.
2. Perform DIY maintenance regularly
Drain openers that you find in your local store can not only be expensive, they are filled with harmful toxins and noxious odors. Instead of relying on them for the regular maintenance of your plumbing, try a natural solution instead.
About once every month or two, pour about 1/4 cup of baking soda into your tub and sink drains. Add enough warm water to move the powder into your drains before following with one cup of white vinegar. Let this mixture stand as is for at least a few hours — though overnight is even better. Afterward, flush your drains with plenty of hot water. Doing this on a regular basis helps your drains flowing more freely.
3. Install drain screens
Drain screens are an effective and inexpensive option that can provide a physical barrier between food and debris that might otherwise make it down your kitchen drain. Drain screens are also invaluable in the bathroom where they can catch hair in the shower and small items before they fall down the sink drain.
Contact a Plumber Today
Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning provides a variety of professional plumbing services, including 24/7 emergency plumbing services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.