Are you concerned about the state of your home’s plumbing? Maintaining a near-perfect plumbing system can be more straightforward than you thought.
Ask yourself the following questions to see where your home’s system stands, then call your local licensed plumbing contractor to find out what you can do to put your plumbing system above and beyond.
When Was the Last Time You Had Your Drains Professionally Cleaned?
If your answer to this question is “more than six months ago,” then your plumbing system is likely suffering for it. Keeping regular appointments for professional drain cleanings is imperative to the maintenance of your home’s plumbing.
Professional drain cleanings are usually an uncomplicated and straightforward service. Your plumbing contractor will first assess the state of your pipes and check for severe clogs in the line, then decide the best course of action to remove any build-up that may have formed in your pipes.
Are You Maintaining Balanced Water Pressure?
Another way to measure how “perfect” your plumbing system is by looking at your water pressure. Is it well balanced- not too low or too high? If your water pressure is too high, it could be negatively affecting the integrity of your pipes. High water pressure can cause issues like leaking, cracking, water waste and eventually, if these issues are not addressed, property damage due to flooding.
Low water pressure could also have some negative consequences, as it could be indicative of a clog or blockage due to mineral buildup in your water line. This blockage not only slows the flow of water through the line, but it also increases the pressure behind the block. If the pressure behind that block becomes too great, it could cause the pipe to burst, causing you thousands of dollars in damage. Contact a trusted plumbing professional to find out the perfect balance point for your home’s water pressure, and make sure to monitor it for any sudden changes.
Have You Installed Screens in All of Your Drains?
You can easily avoid clogged drains and pipes by installing hair blockers in your shower and bathroom sink drains. These are relatively inexpensive, although they vary in price depending on whether you prefer a simple plastic hair blocker or a more elegant design for a decorative shower drain.
Whether or not you choose to make a design statement with your drain screen, you should always have one in place. Hair accumulated in trains is one of the most common causes of clogs.
You should also install a screen in our kitchen sink, to catch any food scraps that might fall into the sink while washing dishes, or cleaning product. Even if you have a garbage disposal, putting food down your kitchen sink can lead to slow, smelly drains, and eventually, the contents of that drain backing up in your sink.
Do You Meet All of Your Local Plumbing Regulations?
Consult the city’s Department of Permit and Inspection Services to find out precisely what permits are needed for specific plumbing work to be done in your home.
Even if you aren’t in need of any plumbing repair or repiping services, you should be sure that your current plumbing adheres to city codes and ordinances.
Failure to meet city requirements or pass inspections can result in hundreds of dollars in fines.
