Everything in our homes would last forever in a perfect world. It wouldn’t wear out, rust, or break down. This isn’t the ideal world. Over time, all of your home appliances and fixtures will need to be replaced or repaired. This includes home plumbing fixtures. You want to avoid major plumbing projects like repiping your entire home. These plumbing care tips will help you avoid that! These tips are easy to follow with some regular maintenance and some clever thinking. These tips will help you prolong the life of your plumbing.
Pay attention to what you actually flush
This is true for all drains, even those in your kitchen sink and toilets. Flushing things down drain pipes can cause damage. You should also ensure that you do not flush grease, baby wipes or hair down your drains. These products, and similar products, are all leading causes of home-drain clogs. Clogs can cause serious damage to your plumbing. Clogs can be avoided by paying more attention to the things you flush down your drains.
Check that your water pressure is not too high
While high water pressure can feel good for some people, it could cause damage to your pipes if it gets too high. If water is forced through your pipes, it can cause cracks and punctures. These small damage can lead to more serious leaks over time.
The average home has a water pressure of between 40-85 psi. A pressure gauge can be used to determine if your water pressure is too high. It is highly recommended that you contact a Long Beach plumber if your water pressure is greater than 85 psi. A professional plumber will install a pressure reduction system to reduce your water pressure to safe levels.
Chemical drain cleaners are not recommended
Chemical drain cleaners should be avoided. They’ll not only clog your drains but also cause damage to the pipes. Chemical drain cleaners can cause damage to your pipes. The cleaner’s acid will eventually wear out your pipes, causing cracks and holes. Instead, our Long Beach plumbers recommend snaking, plunging or professional drain cleaning.
Install a water softener
A water softener is something that almost everyone has. Hard water can damage your skin, hair and clothes. It also damages the plumbing that it flows through. Hard water contains minerals like calcium and potassium. These minerals gradually chip away at pipes and build up on fixtures as scum. They also react with metal to cause corrosion.
A water softener can lower the amount of minerals in your water. Soft water is better for your skin, hair and fixtures. Installing a water softener can make it easier to maintain your entire home’s plumbing.
Schedule routine maintenance check-ups
It is better to be proactive than reactive when it comes time to take care of any issue. This is true for plumbing as well. It’s much cheaper to maintain a regular plumbing maintenance schedule than to repair a severe plumbing problem.