You’ve got an entire household to think about, so it’s understandable that some home maintenance tasks may go undone. However, if a little routine maintenance can help to prevent thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs, isn’t it worth it to schedule a little time out of your routine? Mark some time out of your calendar to shop for home essentials and to educate your family on proper drain and pipe maintenance. It may help to prevent these common plumbing issues.
#1: Sewage Backup
One of the most frustrating problems any homeowner will have to deal with is sewage backing up into the home. This is, of course, a health hazard, and it makes parts of your home uninhabitable until the issue is resolved.
Ensuring that only the proper items go down the drain can help. Spaghetti, for instance, is something that should be kept from kitchen drains. It can absorb water and expand in the pipes, forcing drainage to overflow. Grease from cooking can also solidify in pipes and lead to a lot of pipe buildup. You might also consider scheduling professional drain cleaning once a year to clear out the drains and prevent clogs.
#2: Premature Water Heater Failure
Another issue we see that could often be prevented is when a water heater leaks from the tank, necessitating replacement—often long before water heater replacement is typically necessary. This is often due to a buildup of minerals in the tank, a result of hard water. Hard water minerals (like calcium) can damage pipes and appliances, but installing a whole-home water softener can help.
#3: Broken Garbage Disposal
We strongly recommend talking to your family members about this one. Simple reminders that non-foods and hard food items (like meat bones and popcorn kernels) don’t belong in the drains can go a long way. In addition, you should avoid:
- Large amounts of food
- Fruit pits and seeds
- Stringy foods (like celery and onion skins)
MarGo Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc. offers plumbing service in Verona. Our honesty, integrity, and quality cannot be beat! Call our friendly team today.