Knowing how to maintain your home including your plumbing is crucial for homeowners. Well-maintained plumbing can help you prevent costly repairs and plumbing emergencies. This article discusses some helpful tips to help you take better care of your plumbing. If you need additional assistance, please contact a plumber in Dalworthington, TX, today.

Plumbing tips for your home:

Install Sink Strainers

To prevent major clogs, homeowners must be mindful of what they throw down the drain. Food particles including grease should be disposed of properly. Installing a garbage disposal can help better manage food waste while installing sink strainers can block debris and hair. Strainers can catch food, hair, and other debris that can eventually lead to a major clog.

Remember, you’re not just dealing with a clog alone. Other problems can also come up such as water damage (to your floors), leaks, unpleasant smells coming from the sink and pest infestation. You can prevent these problems by taking care of your drains. You can purchase sink strainers at your local hardware store — and place them in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen sink.

You can maintain healthy drains with regular drain cleaning. Don’t use chemical-based drain cleaners as they are harmful to the pipes. Instead, go for boiling water or vinegar and baking soda solution. Better yet, contact a plumber in Dalworthington, TX, for professional drain cleaning. A trusted and reliable professional is equipped with state-of-the-art tools including a drain camera to help him look at the interior of the pipes. Depending on what’s clogging the pipes, he may need to also use a hydro-jetter to effectively clean the pipe walls.

Don’t Ignore Low or High Water Pressure

When it comes to water pressure, moderation is always the key. Low water pressure can signify a leak in your plumbing. And you can’t ignore this — otherwise, you may end up paying for a costly plumbing emergency. High water pressure must also be addressed as it can severely strain the pipes. If you don’t contact a plumber in Dalworthington, TX, the pressure would eventually lead to a leak in your plumbing. And we all know how costly water damage is, you won’t only be paying for plumbing repairs but also for home restorations.

Buy a pressure regulator to help you regulate the water pressure in your home. If there are still issues, please get in touch with a plumber for assistance.

Insulate the Plumbing Pipes During Winter

It’s common knowledge that the pipes need to be insulated when the temperature starts dropping. When it reaches the freezing point and the pipes are not protected, the water inside them can freeze. When the water freezes, the pipes can expand and then burst. Buy some insulation blankets at the hardware store or contact a professional if you need additional assistance.

If you have an old water heater installed, consider getting an insulating blanket too, to save energy.

Know Where the Shut Off Valves Are

When the pipes suddenly burst or there is a leak in the water heater tank, please don’t panic. Turn off the main water supply to prevent further damage and drain your water heater tank.

As a homeowner, please make sure that you know where the shut-off valves are. You need to turn them off in the event of a plumbing leak or flooding in your home. Make sure that they are also very accessible — if possible, install several shut-off valves. Put them near your water heater, washing machine, water heater tank or garbage disposal. Also, test them first to ensure that they actually work. If any don’t, contact a plumber in Dalworthington, TX, for assistance.

Maintain the Water Heater

Do you still have a conventional water heater tank? To ensure its efficiency and extend its lifespan, please make sure that you maintain it. You need to flush out the sediment buildup at least once a year or frequently if there is a high concentration of hard water in your plumbing.

The sediment buildup needs to be removed as it can affect the efficiency of your water heater. It may also lead to a leak in the tank, and you will have no choice but to completely replace it.

If you’re worried about flooding in the basement, you can also consider replacing your old water heater with a tankless water heater. The latter lasts twice as long and it doesn’t consume a lot of energy. You also will not need a bigger space for it as you can just mount it on the wall. The only downside is that a tankless water heater is more expensive than a conventional heater. However, you can save money in the long run because of the energy you save each day.

Always Hire a Licensed Plumber

Always hire a qualified plumber when it comes to plumbing repairs, installations, or maintenance. Licensed professionals are equipped with the right training and experience to help them effectively resolve a plumbing problem, big or small. Hiring inexperienced plumbers could lead to a disaster. They will not be able to give you a guarantee, so if an unqualified person makes a mistake, you will have no option but to hire another professional to correct the problem. That will cost you more money. Also, they are not insured. If they get into an accident, you will have to shoulder the medical cost.

With a licensed and trusted plumber at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, rest assured that we can get the job done right the first time. We also have the right tools and equipment to help us properly diagnose the problem and provide you with permanent plumbing solutions. Most importantly, our plumbers are very knowledgeable about the industry — we can help you make an informed decision on what water heater is suitable for your home, or what plumbing fixtures can help you save more money on your plumbing.

Never Ignore a Plumbing Problem

We always tell a homeowner never to ignore a plumbing problem to avoid costly plumbing disasters. If you suspect there might be hidden leaks in your plumbing, please get in touch with a professional in Dalworthington, TX, immediately for assistance. We can help with professional leak detection, or you can also consider installing leak detection devices for your home so that you are alerted in case there are leaks in the plumbing system.

Get High-Quality Plumbing Tools

At some point, you may have to repair some minor plumbing on your own such as a minor clog in the sink or the toilet. In this case, you’ll need to have good-quality plungers to help you fix the problem quickly. If you’re planning to use a drain snake, please make sure that you know how to use it. Otherwise, you may end up damaging your pipes. When in doubt, always contact a professional for assistance. Our plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are always ready to assist. Rest assured, we always go the extra mile and work incredibly hard to ensure that all our customers are completely delighted with our service.

Periodically Check for Leaks

Check under the sink, near the water heater or the dishwasher, and water spots on the walls or ceilings. Contact a plumber in Dalworthington, TX right away if you suspect that there might be a leak somewhere in the system. When the water bills have suddenly skyrocketed, that could also signify that there is a leak somewhere in your plumbing.

You can actually do a water meter test to check for leaks. First, turn off all faucets and other appliances that use water. Check the water meter and take note of the reading. Wait for about 30 minutes and make sure that no one else is using water in your home. Recheck the water meter and compare the new reading with the previous one. If it’s different, that means that there is a leak in your plumbing. Get in touch with a licensed plumber for assistance.

Fix a Leaky Toilet

You need to address this problem at the soonest possible time, or you’ll be wasting hundreds of gallons of water. It’s easy to check for a toilet leak — just pour some food coloring in the water heater tank and check the toilet bowl after 30 minutes. If the water inside the toilet bowl changes, there is a toilet leak. We suggest that you get help immediately to fix the problem.

Hire a Plumber for a Regular Inspection

Regular plumbing inspections can extend the lifespan of your plumbing and also avoid costly plumbing repairs. During the inspection, a plumber can thoroughly check your plumbing system and will let you know if there are issues that need to be addressed.

Please don’t skip this if you want to avoid a plumbing emergency. It’s always best when a professional plumber is also checking your plumbing and making sure it’s in excellent condition. For a regular inspection, please make sure that you only hire a licensed professional for it.

Replace Rubber Washing Machine Hoses With Stainless Steel

If you’re still using rubber washing machine hoses, we highly recommend that you replace them with stainless steel braided hoses. The latter is more durable and not susceptible to damage or leaks. For installation though, please make sure that you work with a licensed professional only. Poor installation may lead to a disaster but you can avoid this by hiring the most qualified person to get the job done.

Install a Sump Pump

For homes with basements, we suggest that you install a sump pump to avoid flooding. However, test it first, especially when there is a storm coming. If possible, get some spare batteries just in case there is a power outage in your area. Also, don’t forget to maintain your sump pump so that it stays efficient and you can extend its lifespan. If you need more assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a plumber in your area.

Don’t Flush Just Anything Down the Toilet

Do you have children in the household? You need to educate them on how to properly care for your toilet. Remind them to only flush human waste in the toilet, not their food or small toys.

Install Energy-Efficient Appliances and Water-Saving Fixtures

Do you want to conserve water and save money? The best way to do this is to invest in energy-efficient dishwashers or washing machines. Consider installing low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets as these devices use less water compared to their counterparts. Also, you may want to also switch to tankless water heaters to save money energy and money. If you need more information, feel free to contact our team and we’re more than happy to help.

Don’t Use Chemical-based Drain Cleaners

As mentioned, these heavily advertised cleaners are not the permanent solution to effectively remove a clog. When you have older pipes, these types of cleaners can severely damage them. Also, if you’re not careful, you may injure yourself. To avoid problems, it’s best not to buy them. Talk to our plumbers if you want a natural solution for unclogging your drains. A good plunger can also help.

Inspect Your Plumbing When Going on Vacation

We suggest that you winterize your plumbing (for winter vacations) or hire a professional to thoroughly inspect your plumbing first. You need to make sure that you won’t go home to a flooded home. If possible, talk to a family member and have him check your home from time to time. Give him Benjamin Franklin’s contact info, in case there are emergencies.

Contact a Plumber Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth

Do you need a plumbing service today? Our plumbers at Dalworthington, TX, are highly reliable and hardworking. We can help with any plumbing repairs, installation, or maintenance. Our team is also fully equipped — should something else come up, there is no need to set up another appointment. We’d be happy to resolve the problem on the same day.

As an established plumbing company, we fully dedicate ourselves to providing exceptional services to all homeowners and businesses in the area. We can take care of any plumbing-related concern, big or small. Simply contact us at your earliest convenience and we’ll quickly dispatch a technician to your home or office. Contact us today for an appointment.

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