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!
