How to Maintain a Perfect Plumbing Situation

If you’re like most people, chances are you don’t like spending a lot of money on plumbing repairs that could have been avoided. Proper maintenance of your home or business’s plumbing system will save you money and strife in the long run. Not sure what “proper maintenance” entails? Here are a few key things you can do to maintain a perfect plumbing system:

Schedule Regular and Timely Drain Cleanings

Maintaining clean pipes is the most important step in keeping your plumbing system "perfect" because clean pipes are less likely to clog, leak, or burst.

It is imperative to note, however, that there is a substantial difference between cleaning your drains with liquid detergents and having a professional come out to your home or business to perform the job.

Often, liquid drain cleaners can settle and stick to the inside of your pipes, making your problem worse. In any case where you have tried to unclog a drain yourself, and it becomes clogged again, call a professional.

Maintain a Balanced Water Pressure

Balancing your water pressure is important because, while no one wants the inconvenience of low water pressure in their shower or kitchen sink.

You also don’t want water pressure that is so high it’s damaging your pipes. Water pressure that is too great can actually cause a pipe to burst!

To protect yourself from having to choose between a weak shower and a burst pipe, make sure to install a pressure balancing gauge, and check it periodically to make sure your water pressure is staying at a “perfect” balance point.

Implement Hair Blockers or Drain Screens

Keeping your drains- especially bathroom sink and shower drains- free from hair and other debris is crucial to maintaining your plumbing system in perfect condition.

Hair can accumulate in shower drains and, along with soap form clogs that can cause your shower drain to empty slowly, and eventually stop working altogether. To avoid this kind of blockage, install a hair blocker in your showers, and regularly remove the hair that gets caught there.

Drain screens or strainers are also useful in kitchen sinks, as they stop grease and food debris from getting into (and clogging up) your drain. Always make sure to throw scraps of food in the garbage before leaving dishes in the sink, and use your drain strainer when washing dishes to catch any smaller, leftover food particles.

Know Local Requirements for Plumbing Work

Finally, in order to call your plumbing system "perfect," you need to be sure that it adheres to all your local codes and regulations. Do you have all of the permits you need to perform any repairs? Have you scheduled/passed the necessary inspections?

Are the plumbing contractors working on your system licensed by your state? If you can confidently answer "yes" to all of these questions, then your piping system may be up to code! If you are unsure, contact your local Department of Building Services to inquire about any other plumbing regulations you may need to know about.

As long as you keep regular drain cleanings, balance your water pressure, use screens or hair blockers, and adhere to your local plumbing requirements, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to call your home or business’s plumbing system perfect!

Repair vs. Replace: The Pros and Cons

No question about it, preventative home maintenance can go a long way to reduce costs and extend the lifespan of a number of components and appliances in your Evansville, IN home. That said, there comes a time when it is actually more cost-effective to do a plumbing repipe rather than repairing a small issue.

The pros of repair are that you might put off replacement costs until later. The cons of repair are that you could potentially be sinking money into something that isn’t really fixable in the long term. Here is what you need to know.

Sink Replacement

If your sink is rusty or discolored, then you’ll want to replace it for aesthetic reasons. If you’ve got a leaky faucet, you can probably repair it.

However, if you’ve tried that more than once and it is still leaking, you probably should just get a new sink.

The real indicator of needing a new sink is when you open up the cabinetry. A little moisture on the pipes or pooling water indicates a leak, but can probably be fixed. If the pipes are corroded or have significant mineral buildup, it is advisable to replace them sooner rather than later. Corroded pipes are major water damage just waiting to happen.

Do I Need a New Washer?

Washing machines have multiple components, and if one of these breaks down, there is a good chance that you can simply repair it and get your washing machine working again.

However, if your appliance is more than eight years old, repairing it might be futile.

Some sure signs that you need a new washer are if it shakes when you use it, major water leaks, funky odors that won’t go away or awful noises.

Replace the Shower?

A small drip is something even a novice handyman can fix with a wrench, but there are other more troubling signs that suggest that you need a new shower.

The presence of black mold, the inability to sustain proper water pressure and lots of sediment mean that you should just get yourself a new one.

A New Water Heater

How old is your water heater? Tankless water heaters last about 20 years; storage tank models are good for about 10-15 years. If your unit is close to these ages, it likely makes more sense just to get a new one.

You can make small repairs, say if the problem is a small leak (it could be a valve). A foul odor could just signal that you need to replace the anode rod, which is easy. When you are replacing your plumbing fixtures, consider upgrading to eco-friendly ones that will save you money on your water bill.

Don’t Overpay for Water. Try These 4 Things to Save on Your Water Bill

Water is essential in your home for cooking, cleaning and sanitation. However, if you don’t manage your use wisely, you could be incurring substantial bills as a result.

Cutting down on your water use means cutting your household expenses, so that you can direct your hard-earned dollars to other priorities. It’s all about being mindful of how you use water and changing your habits accordingly. Here are our top tips.

Go to the Carwash

You take pride in having your car look its best, inside and out. But did you know that cleaning your car at home (and running the hose while you are doing it) is extremely wasteful?

Not only are you harming the environment, you are jacking up your water bills with that waste. Make the change to get your car washed at the local car wash. It’s ideal if you can locate a car wash that uses recycled water.

Greywater for Your Plants

Greywater is water that has already been used in your household, usually from cooking or washing. While this water isn’t safe to consume, it is perfectly ok to use to water your plants, lawn and garden.

Collect your cooking liquid after use. Wash dishes in a basin and reserve the water. Configure your laundry plumbing to support harvesting of greywater.

Watch for Plumbing Leaks

It may seem like a hassle to fix those dripping taps, but those water droplets accumulate quickly, jacking up your water bills.

As a rule of thumb, repair plumbing leaks as soon as you find them. Be proactive and get in the habit of trying to find leaks before they have a chance to become more substantial.

Obviously, if you see signs of pooling water, you are dealing with a leak, but watch for more subtle signs, like mold growth, musty odors, low water pressure and rising water bills that you can’t explain.

Switch to Showers Only

After a hard day’s work in Evansville, IN, it is nice to be able to unwind in a hot bath, but the extra cost isn’t really worth it. A shower uses about a third of the amount of water that a bath does. Is it worth that much more money to have a bath?

Make sure that you keep your showers short (5-8 minutes). If you go longer than that, you are wasting water and the cost savings are gone.

As a homeowner, it pays to be proactive when it comes to home maintenance, particularly with your plumbing. Keep watch for signs of trouble and call for help as needed.

Don’t Forget these 4 Items on Your Winter Checklist this Season

You’d do everything that you can to protect your home and your family from harm, right? You can reduce the risk of a number of hazards by being prepared and by doing some ongoing maintenance. The upside is that some of these tasks will not only make you safe; they will help with your home’s energy efficiency.

Here are some essential items for your winter checklist. Ready to get started?

De-Icing Tips

Having slippery walkways and driveways in the winter in Evansville, IN is not uncommon. They can be quite treacherous, and it is easy to slip and fall and seriously injure yourself.

To diminish this risk, stock up on de-icing salt and store it somewhere handy (like your front porch, garage or both). It’s a good idea to keep a little in the trunk of your car, just in case you need to de-ice your locks.

Be careful with de-icer. As helpful as it is, it can be toxic to pets and plants. There is even the potential that it could contaminate your water supply. Select more organic grade for less toxicity, when deicing your plumbing system.

Ventilate

It’s important to have a certain degree of moisture in your home to preserve wood floors and furniture and maintain good health. However, too much moisture will diminish your air quality with mold spores (health risk) and make it hard to heat your home properly.

Ventilate moist air with fans that exit out of your home. Open windows a crack for a few minutes now and then to get some fresh air.

Insulate

You need a well-insulated house in order to stay warm. Did you know that you suffer more heat loss out of your walls than you do out of your floors or windows? Also, did you know that about 35 percent of your home’s heat loss can be directed out of your attic?

Head up to your attic to inspect the insulation. Is it wet or torn? It may be time to replace it. At the very least, make sure that it is snug against the walls because it can shift during windy days in the spring, summer, and fall.

Test Your Alarms

Twice annually you should check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector alarms. Test that they are working and replace the batteries.

Pop off the lids and vacuum out the inside. Dust, debris and spider webs can accumulate inside, which will make your units work less effectively.

As a side note, don’t ever paint over your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. The paint will make it hard for them to detect danger. For extra safety, place a fire extinguisher on each floor. Don’t forget to check the expiry date.