Putting a Stop to Plumbing Leaks, Clogs and Flooding

You rely on your home’s plumbing to operate efficiently, but potential problems can hide around every corner. Fortunately, you can avoid obstructions, leaks and even flooding with a little regular upkeep. Here’s how to keep your water flowing and your stress levels low.

1. Know What Not to Put in the Drain

Many kitchen sinks may be outfitted with a garbage disposal, but several things still need to be thrown away or put in a compost heap, {and never dumped into the drain, such as:

• Cooking grease
• Tough foods like corn cobs and stalks of celery
• Sticky foods like boiled rice or coffee grounds
• Solid objects like gristle and animal bones
• Things that aren’t food. Silverware and other small items can accidentally fall into the disposal and cause damage when you turn it on.

2. Know What Not to Flush

Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

• Baby wipes
• Paper towels
• Soft cotton
• Women’s hygiene products
• Baby diapers
• Floss
• Expired medication

3. Utilize Mesh Strainers

Another effective way to prevent a clog is to place sink strainers over your kitchen sinks and bath drains. They trap hair, bits of soap, crusty toothpaste and other debris as water runs down the drain. these strainers to keep your drains flowing freely.

4. Know Where the Main Shutoff Valve Is Located

Being knowledgeable about your plumbing system means knowing the location of your main water shutoff valve. This valve controls water entering your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to turn off this valve before traveling for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home under the ground.

5. Get a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump can really help prevent water damage, particularly in regions prone to heavy rainfall. This device extracts water that accumulates in something called the sump basin, generally installed in the floor of your basement, and expels it away from the house. For homeowners who already have a sump pump, check it every now and then by pouring water into the pit. As long as the pump activates and the pit drains, it’s working fine. If it doesn’t work properly, you have time to call a professional to fix your sump pump before another big thunderstorm rolls through.

6. Install Flood Flood Alarms

Just as smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms are useful for preventing water damage. These electric or battery-operated devices sense pooling water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, sounding an alarm to inform you. For further protection, add smart flood alarms into your home security system. This alerts you on your phone after water has been detected, enabling you to handle leaks before they cause significant damage.

7. Add a Backflow Valve

Many plumbers recommend you install a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to prevent sewage from flowing back into their homes during heavy rainfall. Local expert plumbers can set up this effective defense against sewage flowing back into the house.

Spot and Avoid Leaking

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home system of plumbing pipes and fixtures is concealed, so dripping pipes often go unnoticed until they cause major problems. Regularly checking for leaks can help you identify problems quickly. Here’s how:

• Check under the sink for signs of standing water, rotting wood or mold.
• Be on the lookout for slow leaks in your toilet by squeezing some drops of dye to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, there is a leak.
• Examine around and behind your plumbing appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaks.
• Schedule a water meter test.
  • First off, turn off all water in your home via the water main.
  • Then, go outside to read the water meter. Check one more time in two hours, being careful not to use any water before the test is done.
  • If the reading goes up, there is a leak somewhere.

Do Everything You Can to Avoid Frozen Pipes

In climates with cold winters, protecting the plumbing pipes is vital if you want to avoid freezing and bursting. Here are some tips:

• Wrap the pipes in insulation in unheated areas like the basement, garage or attic with foam tubing or heating tape.
• Unhook garden hoses from their spigots throughout the winter to prevent ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during cold spells to encourage airflow around the pipes.

Partner with a Trusted Plumber

While you can implement many preventive steps yourself to help prevent clogs, leaks and damage from floods, sometimes it takes Expert local plumbers to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where excels. We are a network of plumbers supporting U.S. homeowners from coast to coast with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your level of service after one year, we will do whatever it takes to make it right. This commitment shows how we ensure a complete sense of comfort in your life. For some of the best plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today