Maintaining Your Plumbing System: Insights from Your Trusted Richmond, VA Plumber

5/15/2020

Photo By Gabor Kenyeres at Shutterstock

Most homeowners don’t do proactive maintenance of their plumbing systems. They wait for a major problem to arise before they call for a plumber. Taking your plumbing system for granted is not a good idea as that will cost you more in the long run.

Doing proactive maintenance prevents sudden plumbing emergencies and costly repairs in the future. As much as possible, do a daily, weekly and even a seasonal inspection of your plumbing system. Better yet, schedule proper inspection or maintenance with a professional plumber in Richmond, VA. They are the best people to effectively check whether your system is working efficiently and not costing you more money.

There are a few things that you can do on your end to ensure that your plumbing system is working smoothly. If you religiously do these, your plumbing system will reward you with efficient performance and lower energy bills.

A few tips for maintaining your plumbing system:

Daily Maintenance

Never ignore a simple clog. Why? Eventually, it will add pressure to your pipes. What you can do daily is to not pour oils, grease, fats or butter down the drain. This will coagulate inside and will gradually cause an even bigger problem.

Make it a practice to not use chemical clog removals in your bathroom too as that might also clog the drains. Do not flush sanitary pads or tissue paper in the toilet as well.

If there is a clog and you do not know how to fix it, always call a plumber in your area. They have the tools needed to help you rectify the plumbing problem.

Have a Weekly Inspection for Leaks

It doesn’t take much of your time to do this and you only need to it at least once a week.

Signs of leaks could be in the form of mold growth or a musty smell. When you notice these signs, there could be a leak somewhere. Take your time to find these leaks to avoid bigger problems and costly repairs. No matter how small the problem is, never ignore it. Call a plumber if you do not know how to resolve a plumbing problem. As much as possible, avoid DIY videos on YouTube especially when it comes to your plumbing system. Always call a professional in Richmond, VA to help you fix the issue. When you work with a plumber, you are assured that it doesn’t happen again.

Include checking the drains for your weekly inspection. One of the signs of a drain problem is when you see bubbles filling up in your sink. That means you have a tiny drain problem. Call a plumber to help you fix the problem.

Other things you can do weekly include checking the pipe fittings, showerheads and the toilet flappers too.

Remember to religiously do this maintenance if you want to reap the rewards of having an efficient plumbing system.

Winter Maintenance

Do you know that a below-freezing temperature may affect your home’s plumbing system?

During a change of season, it is best practice to call a plumber for proper maintenance of your system.

You could also take advantage of these few tips:

1. Insulating your pipes with either a foam or a heat tape
   2. Inspecting outdoor spigots and shutting off the water
   3. Checking outdoor spigot for leaks
   4. Disconnecting hoses in the outdoor spigots

Always call a professional for assistance if you are not familiar or do not know how to do these maintenance tips.

Check the Water Heater

Always remember to never turn on the water heater temperature higher or lower than 120 Degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temp to keep your water heater working efficiently. Set it lower or higher and it will cost you more on energy. In addition, it may reduce your tank’s life cycle.

Call a plumber to help you flush out debris found on the bottom of your tank. Do this at least once or twice a year.

Other Tips

Check Washing Machine Hoses

Minor problems such as leaks or cracks should not be ignored. They could erupt eventually and will cost you more. It is best to replace it once in three years. Also, it’s best if your hose isn’t too close to the wall to prevent damages.

Clean Sewer Main Line

All wastes go to the main sewer line which is connected to the sewer system. You will have a problem if this will clog. Have them cleaned by a professional regularly to avoid blockage.

Prevent Clogs in Shower Drains

What you can do is install a screen in the shower drain. This will prevent hair and other particles that will cause minor to serious clogs.

Repairs Water Drips

This isn’t only annoying at nights, drips can also affect your water bills. They waste water and also damage the floors or walls of your homes. Fix this immediately. Call a professional if you do not know how to repair it.

Fix the Running Toilet

You will not only be wasting a lot of water, your bill could go up at its all-time high. Calling plumbing repairs should definitely help you resolve this.

Remember that taking small steps go a long way. You can avoid extremely costly repairs and problems when you learn to do proper maintenance of your plumbing system.

Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Richmond, VA

If you need any plumbing service, contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. It’s our commitment to provide you with reliable service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can count on us for exceptional service. We have competent, highly experienced and trained plumbers to assist you with all your problems.

Contact us today!