You may need to get a hold of a calculator for this next part, but you’ll still get a good idea even if you don’t have one nearby. You use roughly 2 gallons of water when brushing your teeth in the morning. If you took a shower after, you may have used around 5 gallons a minute. That is still better than filling up your bathtub which requires around 36 gallons of water.
You may have used somewhere between 8 to 27 gallons of water if you washed the dinner dishes, which is a lot, and the reason why plumbers in Arlington, TX suggest using a dishwasher. You may not want to consider all the plastic bottles or water glasses you refilled today, but nearly 3 gallons of water was used each time you flushed the toilet. Your overall water usage count comes to around 100 gallons a day.
The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that on average every American uses between 80 to 100 gallons of water every day. This means your plumbing has to go through substantial pressure every day which is why you should think about ways you can extend the life of your plumbing system. The expert plumbers in Arlington, TX have offered the following tips that will not only help your plumbing system last longer but will also help you save money on your water bill.
1. Know Your Shut-Offs
You should know where the main water valve in your home is and how to use it properly. That is the best way you can prevent a pipe burst from flooding your home. You should also know how to shut off the water in your home’s washing machine, sinks, toilets, and other water-related appliances. When they start experiencing problems, a disconnect will prevent pipe damage and save you hours of cleanup time as well.
2. Maintain Water Pressure
Plumbers in Arlington, TX recommend keeping a water pressure gauge to ensure that the water pressure in your home is between 40 and 85 psi. Anything above that will put great stress on the plumbing system of your home.
3. Look for Corrosion
When you’re looking at your valves, be vigilant in inspecting the pipes and shut-off valves for signs of corrosion. You can easily identify it by looking for green, orange, and yellow stains. If you notice them, call the expert plumbers in Arlington, TX to replace them immediately.
4. Prevent Shower and Sink Drain Clogs
You can install screens over the shower and sink drains to stop soap, food, and hair particles from clogging up the pipes in the kitchen and the bathrooms. The screens will help make cleaning up easier for you as well.
5. Avoid Toilet Clogs
It may not always be possible but you should be mindful about what you’re flushing down the toilet. Don’t put anything apart from toilet paper down the toilet since it can result in damage, overflows, and clogs. Hand and baby wipes should also be thrown in the trash.
6. Space Your Showers
Plumbers in Arlington, TX suggest waiting for about 10 minutes between showers to equalize water pressure. If someone in your home doesn’t like that, you should them to use that time to run the exhaust fan so the moisture in the room can be absorbed.
7. Get Rid of Clog-Removal Products
Even though the commercials may paint a compelling picture, you shouldn’t believe everything that is shown to you. Plumbers in Arlington, TX suggest ditching all clog-removal products since they strong chemicals that can damage the plumbing system in your home.
8. Have Leaks and Drips Repaired Immediately
Water leaks and drips don’t just waste water, but they also cause damage walls and damage fixtures, furniture, and floors. If you don’t know how to stop a leak or fix a drip, you should call plumbers in Arlington, TX for instant plumbing repairs.
9. Fix a Running Toilet
A single toilet sees a lot of activity in a single month. It’s amazing how the interior parts manage to hold up. However, they don’t last forever and a running toilet is a clear indication that you should get it fixed by getting new plumbing parts.
10. Clean Faucet Aerators
Weak water pressure is another common problem faced by homeowners. Plumbers in Arlington, TX say that most of the times this is only caused by calcium that has accumulated in the faucet aerator. All you need to do to fix this problem is to remove the aerators by cleaning them with vinegar. You will notice that water will start to flow freely once again.
11. Clear Slow Drains
Clogged showers, tubs, and sinks will start to drain slower and slower as time passes. It’s also very easy to ignore them but you should force yourself to clear them out if you don’t want to be standing in water that is ankle-deep. You’ll also be putting less pressure on your piping system.
12. Stop Freezing Pipes
While you don’t have to worry about frozen pipes in Arlington, TX, you can’t afford to be complacent. This is especially true when it comes to adding insulation to the pipes in the basement, crawl space, garage, and other areas of the home that are exposed to cold weather.
13. Check the Washing Machine Hoses
Plumbers in Arlington, TX say that some of the most expensive insurance claims received by insurance companies were due to cracks, leaks, and bulges in washing machine hoses. You should replace the hoses once every 3 years, and to prevent hose damage, you should set the machine 4 inches from the wall.
14. Understand the Garbage Disposal
The most misunderstood appliance in the household according to plumbers in Arlington, TX is the garbage disposal. People tend to either overestimate its potency and throw pieces of their dinner down there or treat it gingerly, too afraid to even throw milk and corn flakes down the drain. You should remember that, irrespective of what type of garbage disposal you have, never throw eggshells, shells, and, bones down the disposal. Disposing of fibrous foods like potato peels, celery, broccoli, and bananas through the garbage disposal should also be avoided, and thrown in the trash can instead of the disposal.
If you’re searching for the best plumbers in Arlington, TX, get in touch with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Fort Worth by calling at 817-983-7876 or visiting their website today.