Your home’s plumbing system is one of the key parts of your home that needs constant maintenance, alongside your electrical system and HVAC unit. While you may believe there are a large number of things to worry about when it comes to your pipes, it’s not as complicated as some plumbers make it seem. There are a few habits that you can add to your daily routine to make your plumbing maintenance easier than ever.
Don’t Pour Grease Down the Drain
It’s easy to pour liquid grease down the drain and not think twice about it when you’re cooking. Because it’s liquid, it must slide down your pipes easily, right? Wrong. The grease leaves a thin layer on the pipes as it goes down, which solidifies as it cools. Pouring grease down the drain over and over again will lead to a buildup of grease and eventually clog your pipes.
Consider using a paper towel to soak up the cooking grease or pouring it into a small can to throw in the trash after it solidifies.
Avoid Using the Disposal to Break Up a Lot of Food
Disposals are a great tool in the kitchen, but they can easily be abused and damage your pipes in the process. They aren’t made to break up extremely large chunks of food, so be sure to scrape large chunks into the trash before rinsing off your plate.
On top of that, certain foods tend to gum up your pipes (similar to grease). Particularly starchy or fibrous foods like pasta, rice, and celery don’t break up easily. Things like coffee grounds and eggshells tend to stick to the blades of the disposal as well. Only use your disposal for crumbs and other small food bits to keep your disposal working smoothly.
Don’t Flush Random Things Down the Toilet
Many brands claim their products are safe to flush down the toilet. Don’t believe them. More often than not, these products don’t break down in the way the brand claims they do, and they end up clogging up your pipes.
Don’t flush wipes or diapers or feminine products or anything else that claims to be safe to flush. Keep it to only human waste and toilet paper. Your plumbing will thank you.
Use a Drain Guard
Even if you follow all the above guidelines, accidents happen (and so does laziness). Installing a drain guard in each of your drains will add a layer of protection and prevent unwanted debris from clogging up your drains. There are inexpensive, easy-to-install options that you can find at your local hardware store. Be sure to empty them regularly to keep the water draining.
Make Sure Your Pipes are Winterized
If you live in an area where the temperature drops, you should be wary of your pipes bursting. When water gets cold, it expands and puts pressure on the pipes until they burst. It doesn’t always happen, but it happens more often than you think.
When the weather starts to turn, winterize your pipes by making sure you’ve insulated any pipes exposed to the outdoors. Drain your sprinklers and garden hoses, and shut off the pipes that lead to them.
Plumbing mistakes can be costly. Between the materials your plumber will need and the destruction they might cause when getting to the root of the problem, one mistake could cost you thousands of dollars. By implementing these habits into your routine, you can put your mind at ease by not needing to worry about your house’s plumbing.
