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As a homeowner, it’s important that you know how to maintain your home. Taking care of your home involves knowing how your plumbing works and what you can do to keep your plumbing in top shape. Below is some expert advice that you’ll need for your home’s plumbing.
Flush Only Tissue Paper
There are certain types of toilet paper that you can flush in your toilet. Don’t worry, toilet paper can actually break down in about 24 hours and won’t clog your toilet. However, some items are a major no-no in your toilet. You should never, at any point, flush them in the toilet. They include tampons, paper towels, cleaning wipes, cotton balls, grease, and dental flosses. Flushing these items can clog your toilet eventually. And you know how inconvenient it is to have a toilet problem. To avoid the stress of dealing with a toilet clog, ensure that you know how to take care of your toilet. For other toilet issues, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber in Granbury, TX.
Cover the Drains
It’s not enough to be mindful of what goes down the drain. Yes, you shouldn’t throw away food particles and grease down the sink, but it’s also important that you install drain covers to prevent soap, hair, and other debris in the drain. It’s so much easier to clean the strainers than having to deal with a drain clog. You can find strainers at your local shop, and they are fairly easy to install. But if you need additional help, you can always get in touch with a plumber in Granbury, TX, for assistance.
Buy a Plumbing Tape
As a homeowner, you can’t always rely on your plumbing service. It’s also best when you have some plumbing tools and items that you can use for your home. They will come in handy for minor issues that you can do on your own such as sealing the pipe joints with plumbing tape. It’s a fairly easy task that doesn’t need complex plumbing skills. However, if the task involves more than just using the tape, you should always get in touch with a plumbing professional.
Check for Leaks
While it’s best to book a professional leak detection service to help you determine the exact location of the leak, periodically checking for leaks can really help you. Some obvious signs of leaks are a puddle of water on the floor or near the pipes. Some leaks can’t be detected right away; you will need other signs such as water marks on the walls or in your ceilings. We recommend that homeowners check for leaks because of what water can do to your home and pocket. Water damage can be really expensive — you will not only be paying for the services of a professional but you may also be paying for home repairs and restorations. It will even cost you more if you don’t have homeowners insurance or when your insurance doesn’t cover it.
For other leaks issues that you have no control over, call a licensed plumber in Granbury, TX, for assistance.
Learn How to Fix the Drain
If you know how to use a plumbing snake, it should be easy for you to fix a minor clog. However, you will need to make sure that you know how to properly use the snake. Otherwise, you may damage your pipes. If you’re not certain about doing it right, it’s better to call a plumber instead.
When cleaning your drains, you may use hot water or baking soda and vinegar solution. Avoid using chemical drain cleaners as they may severely damage your pipes. Instead, ensure that you book professional drain cleaning so a professional can look at the interior of your pipes and help you resolve clogs.
Check the Water Pressure
You may think that it’s okay to have high water pressure in your home; that means that water flow is good. What you don’t know is, high water pressure can strain your pipes. Over time, your pipes may leak because of too much water pressure. Low water pressure isn’t good either. You may speak with a plumbing professional so they can do an inspection in your home and help you fix your water pressure problem.
Always Fix a Running Toilet
Do you know that you can waste hundreds of gallons of water when you don’t fix a running toilet? And where will this go? To your water bills. When the toilet runs, the flapper usually will need to be replaced. Get help from a plumber so they can help you replace the flapper. For toilet leaks, you simply will need some food coloring and drop them in the toilet tank. Don’t use the water for about 30 minutes and check your toilet again. If the water in the toilet bowl changes color, there is a leak in your plumbing, and you will need to call a professional in Granbury, TX, so they can help you alleviate the problem.
Know the Location of the Shut-Off Valve
This is one of the things that you really should know about. When there are leaks in your plumbing, the first thing you will need to do is turn off the main water supply. Otherwise, you will have to pay a fortune in restoration costs due to water damage. It’s even worse when you don’t have homeowners insurance.
Insulate the Pipes During the Winter
To avoid leaks in the pipes, we recommend that homeowners insulate their outdoor pipes and water heater, especially during the winter. It can prevent water freezing inside the pipes that may lead to your pipes expanding and bursting. Don’t worry; you can find an insulation blanket at your local shop. If you don’t know where to get these, you can speak with a plumber so they can help.
Always Hire a Licensed Plumber for Installation
Are you thinking about hiring an inexperienced handyperson to help you install an appliance so you can save money? To avoid problems with your insurance company, always call a professional for any plumbing installation. Hiring a professional also ensures the proper installation of your appliance or plumbing fixtures. The right professionals are equipped with the right tools and experience to help you get the job done properly. Also, they always give you a guarantee. It will give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t have problems with your appliance down the road.
When in Doubt, Always Call a Licensed Plumber
Minor plumbing issues may not need the services of a plumber. If you have some plumbing tools with you and you know how plumbing works, you should be able to fix some minor plumbing problems. However, when you’re not really certain about what you’re doing, get help from a licensed plumber. Avoid calling an inexperienced handy person, thinking that you can save money. These people are not really trained to tackle plumbing jobs and they may not be familiar with the plumbing codes. To avoid problems down the road, we always ask homeowners to call a plumbing service in Granbury, TX.
Book a Regular Plumbing Inspection
Plumbing inspections are usually every year or every two years, depending on your plumbing. Homes with old pipes and appliances may need inspection frequently. Hiring a licensed plumber for a regular inspection may cost you a little more, but they are also very beneficial for your home. With regular inspection, a plumber can detect problems early and resolve them right away. It can prevent major plumbing emergencies that may cost you a lot of money.
Maintain Your Water Heater
Your water heater will not last forever but you can extend its lifespan when you drain the sediments inside the water tank. Do this at least once a year or as necessary. You may have to do it more frequently when there is a high concentration of hard water in your plumbing. Also, if your water heater is more than 8 years old and you keep calling a plumber for repairs, consider getting a water heater replacement instead. It will be more cost-effective to get a replacement than keep paying for water heater repairs.
Consider Installing a Tankless Water Heater
With a tank-type water heater, you will need a bigger space in your home to store the tank. More energy is also used as you will need to keep heating the water. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, can be mounted on the wall. Also, because you are heating water on demand, that means that you are able to save more energy. You can save more money with a tankless water heater compared to a tank-style heater. The former also lasts twice as long as the tank-type heater, and it doesn’t need a lot of maintenance.
Invest in Leak Detection Devices
To help you prevent water damage in your home, consider investing in leak detection devices for your home. When there is a leak, these devices can alert you even while you’re at work. They can automatically turn off your water main to prevent further problems. Some of them can also detect fluctuations in your water temperature. For the installation of these devices, do make sure that you only work with a licensed plumbing professional.
Test Your Sump Pump Before a Storm
Are you expecting a storm in your area? Then make sure that you test your sump pump first. Testing them ensures that they will work and won’t cause flooding in your basement. If possible, consider buying new batteries too, just in case you’ll suddenly lose power.
Replace Your Washer’s Hose With Braided Stainless Steel Hoses
Plastic hoses are susceptible to wear and tear while stainless steel hoses are very durable. To avoid leaks in your washing machine, call a plumber so they can help you replace your washing machine hoses.
Invest in a Good Plunger
At some point, you will have to use this to fix a minor clog in your plumbing. It would help if you have one of the best plungers in the market to make it easier for you to resolve the problem. When it comes to maintaining your plumbing, always buy high-quality tools as they work better than those cheap ones. Of course, you’ll need to also make sure that you know how to use these tools. Otherwise, you should call a plumbing service for assistance.
Never Ignore Minor Problems
Some homeowners want to postpone fixing a plumbing issue, thinking that perhaps it will go away on their own. They prefer ignoring it especially when it doesn’t really disturb them. This is a bad practice and must be changed. Keep in mind that major plumbing emergencies are a result of those ignored plumbing issues. This won’t only cost you a lot of money; your insurance may not cover any water damage claim you have because you performed repairs or maintenance promptly. Call a plumber right away if there are issues that you can’t fix on your own.
Book a Plumbing Inspection When You Go on a Vacation
If you plan to be away for a week or more, always hire a plumber for an inspection. You need to make sure that you won’t go home to flooding in the basement or in other areas of your home. A professional plumber can help you prepare your home while you are away.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth
Do you need a plumber in Granbury, TX today? Call us immediately! Our plumbers are always ready to help. We also have emergency services! We specialize in plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance. Call us today for an appointment.