Most homeowners don’t realize that plumbing maintenance will extend life expectancy. Our first thought is, “How do we maintain our plumbing?” First, you’ll want to fix those leaky faucets, outdoor spigots, and runny toilets. With a little knowledge and some essential tools, most homeowners can tackle most plumbing issues on their own. It would help to have a few tools handy such as small plumber’s snake, a plunger, pliers, and a few extra tools.
Home Pipes
Let’s start from the top, our home piping. The water pipes that deliver water throughout our home will eventually wear out. They’re expected to last 40 to 50 years but can easily exceed those numbers under the best of conditions. The problem is hard water in California. The minerals in our water will eventually build up in our pipes, causing low water pressure; and in some cases, the pipes will start to leak. A water filtration system is the best solution because it removes the minerals before it delivers water to the house.
Water Heater Need Plumbing Maintenance
Most homeowners don’t know that their water heater requires maintenance. If you rinse out the sediment from your water heater annually and change the anode rod once every five years, you could significantly extend the life of your water heater.
Garbage Disposal Maintenance
Use your garbage disposal sparingly and don’t put bones, celery, coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit pits, pasta, or potato peels down your garbage disposal.
Your Toilets Maintenance
Check your toilet for leaks annually by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to the tank. If your bowl turns color then you have a leaky toilet. Toilet leaks are not only easy to fix, but the new parts are also inexpensive.
Bathroom sinks Need Plumbing Maintenance
For heavily used bathroom sinks, run a kettle full of boiling water down them every month. This will help black slime from building up in your sinks drain.
Water pressure Is part of Maintaining Your Plumbing
Check your water pressure every year or when you feel it may be off. You can purchase a water pressure test gauge for less than ten dollars.
Compression valves Need Plumbing Maintenance
Once a year, add a little WD-40 to your compression valves and turn them on and off a couple of times to keep them loose. They are the valve that connects to your toilet, bathroom sinks, and kitchen sink. They have a tendency to stick if allowed to sit for many years. If your valves have blue-greenish stuff on them, this is limescale deposits. You can remove it with an all-purpose cleaner. You can also wipe lemon juice or vinegar over it. The mild acid helps dissolve some of the minerals creating the buildup.
Washer Hookups Need To Be Checked
Occasionally check your washer connection by feeling for moisture around the connected area. You can also keep it clear of lime buildup wiping with an all-purpose cleaner and a small amount of lemon juice or vinegar over it. Allow it to sit, then wipe dry.
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