Plumbing repairs happen from time to time — faucets leak, pipes break, toilets misbehave. Yet, the frequency of those repairs often depends on how well you maintain proper plumbing care. It’s easy to ignore a functioning plumbing system, but without routine care, problems arise. It’s not uncommon for plumbing to fall into disrepair due to lack of maintenance. To keep your home’s plumbing in optimal condition, so that it requires fewer repairs — which is bad for us, but good for you — use these five essential plumbing care tips!
Keep Drains On A Grease-Free Diet
Doctors and plumbers have very different jobs, yet both are equally aware of the dangers of greasy foods. Plumbers aren’t concerned with dieting, though, so much as with how people discard grease after cooking. Grease cools and solidifies quickly. Pouring hot oil down a drain is an easy way to clog up pipes. Instead, gather excess grease into plastic containers and throw them in the trash.
Run Hot Water After Heavy Sink Usage
If you’re fatigued after washing a stack of dishes by hand, imagine how the plumbing system feels. Just as a hot shower can rejuvenate you, an uninterrupted minute of hot water can do wonders for the plumbing. The water flushes out the pipes, while the heat kills lingering bacteria that could otherwise cause future problems. But beware of leaving the water running too long — it’s wasteful and will give you an expensive utility bill.
Schedule Annual Plumbing System Inspections
While smart plumbing care can prevent you from having to call plumbers for repairs, you shouldn’t avoid us entirely. Even if you’re a model homeowner who treats the plumbing system like royalty, a professional plumber should still inspect the pipes, mainline, and other system components at least once a year. By preemptively maintaining the system and repairing little issues today, we can prevent expensive plumbing emergencies down the road.
Meanwhile, when the plumbing acts up for any reason whatsoever, Quality Plumbing of Gainesville Inc. is available to fix the plumbing problem(s). We’ll get the system back on track with professional repairs you can trust to last. Contact us to schedule a service appointment.
Make Your Kitchen Sink A Gated Community
Entryway gates in private communities keep out unwanted visitors. A drain gate serves a similar purpose for your kitchen sink. This round metal insert rest atop the drain opening. Perforations allow water to flow through but prevent food, utensils, and other debris from traveling down the drain and blocking or damaging the plumbing. Most sinks arrive from the manufacturer with drain gates. Replacement gates can be found at hardware or big box stores, and the universal circumference of sink drains nearly ensures a proper fit.
Use Homemade Cleaners Around Plumbing Fixtures
Over-the-counter bathroom cleaners are highly touted in catchy jingles on TV commercials. But the products themselves are made with harsh chemicals that can corrode pipes, disrupt the chemistry of septic systems, and lead to additional plumbing issues. Natural cleaners are just as effective as chemical-based cleaners, but they cause less plumbing damage.
Our plumbers in Gainesville recommend two versions of homemade cleaners. The first homemade cleaner is baking soda and vinegar, which are ideal for cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces. When mixed together, the ingredients chemically react as a fizzy solution powerful enough to remove grime.
The second homemade cleaner is citrus juice and warm water. Enzymes in citrus juice, such as from a lemon or lime, can break down grease, making hot water and citrus an effective formula for cleaning the insides of pipes. Substituting these DIY solutions for chemical ones during routine cleaning around plumbing fixtures helps ensure the pipes stay rust-free and clear of blockages.