Many of the plumbing problems you’ll encounter in your life can all be avoided with a bit of due diligence. Whether it’s leaks or clogs, there are reasonable steps you can take to avoid them from happening in the first place. Here are five things you can do to avoid most plumbing problems:
Avoid Putting FOG Down Your Drains
90% of your plumbing system is hidden behind walls and beneath the ground. If you wanted to ruin it on purpose, you’d really have to get your hands dirty.
But there is one way that you can damage your plumbing on accident. That, of course, is by putting the wrong things down the drain.
The biggest offender is the most well-known: fats, oils, and greases. Referred to as FOG in the plumbing industry, these three substances are the biggest threat to your plumbing system. By sticking to the interior of your drain pipes, they’ll collect bits of food, hair, and other debris that can lead to a clog.
Clean Your Drains Regularly
FOG and other gunk going down your drains is inevitable. The question you may be asking, then, is how often the drains will have to be cleaned.
We think the best time to have it done is between 18 and 22 months. Drains don’t get clogged overnight, so there’s no need to have it done any sooner than that. The exception to that rule would be if you’re noticing common drain clog symptoms, such as slower-than-usual draining or foul odors coming from the drain.
Resist DIY Plumbing Attempts
Where pouring FOG down the drain is something that happens as a result of careless behavior, the other way you might accidentally damage your pipes is through DIY repair methods. Whether it’s trying to replace pipes on your own, or attempting to unclog a drain with various chemicals or concoctions, we don’t condone any repairs that aren’t done by a pro.
Even if the method to perform the repair seems simple enough, the experience and training of a professional Camarillo, CA plumber will save you time, prevent damage to the plumbing, and ensure that the problem doesn’t repeat itself.
Check If You Need Repiping
If you’ve never had your home repiped before, now would be a good time to look into it. By no means does every home need repiping, but you’ll find that older homes usually do. Reasons for that include:
- The pipes installed in the home are hazardous to health, such as in the case of lead and galvanized steel piping.
- Corrosion or hard water has taken a toll on the pipes, thus causing leaks or clogs.
- Rust or corrosion is creating discolored or bad tasting water.
Consider Water Softening
Water softening can go a long way in maintaining your plumbing system. You’ll only truly need it in the event that your water supply has high concentrations of hard water. The minerals found in hard water can create limescale buildup, which will clog your pipes, lead to water pressure issues, and can cause corrosion.
A whole-house water softener will use sodium to remove those particles from the water before they can taint the plumbing.