How to Extend the Life of Your Plumbing System
Keeping your plumbing system in top shape is normally just a matter of proper maintenance. If ever you feel you’re getting in over your head with a project, don’t be stubborn and just call a plumber for assistance.
By keeping this handful of tips in mind, you can save yourself from many of the common reasons people call a plumber in the first place and save yourself quite a bit of money in the process.
Keep These Tools Ready
Many of the most common plumbing problems can be fixed with just a handful of household tools. You’ll want to keep a plunger, a pipe wrench and a plumber’s snake on hand to deal with standard leaks and clogs. Plungers obviously unclog pipes, while the pipe wrench will, as the name implies, help you tighten any loose pipes you find.
Plumber’s snakes are much more effective than chemicals for clearing clogs, as chemicals need to be able to reach and dissolve the clog and plumber’s snakes physically grab and remove the clog.
Keep Your Pipes Clear
This means understanding what you can and can flush down a toilet as well: toilet paper, and nothing else. For your sinks and showers, make sure you have drain covers or hair catchers of some kind to prevent the hair from clogging the drain.
You will also want to have your pipes cleaned from time to time to ensure any debris currently in your pipes doesn’t get a chance to build up and cause issues.
Maintain Your Septic System
Ideally, your septic system should be pumped out every 3 to 5 years. In between time, avoid putting fat and grease down your disposer drain, conserve water and only flush toilet paper down your toilet; anything else will clog the toilet eventually.
Also avoid redirect sump pumps or roof drains into your septic system. Septic systems work best with as little water as possible.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
When you do call a plumber for something, have them also check your exterior plumbing, faucets and pipes for any leaks. Also have your toilet checked out if it continuously runs, since this can jack up your water bill at the very least.
Even if it turns out to be a problem you could have fixed on your own, it’s better to be aware of and fix an issue than neglect it and have it become something far worse.
Keep your Montgomery plumbing system in top shape with a little help from Cole Plumbing. Call us at (334) 279-8919 today!
