Windy City Rooter
We Drain Your Pipes, Not Your Wallet®
Chicago & Suburbs
Milwaukee/S. WI

5 Ways To Maintain Your Plumbing System

One of the most important aspects of your home that requires regular maintenance is your plumbing system. Without proper plumbing maintenance, you can end up with expensive repair bills, water damage, and other plumbing disasters. The good news is, you can prevent many plumbing problems with proper maintenance.

Here are five ways to maintain your plumbing system.

1. Fix Leaky Faucets

If you don’t fix a leaky faucet right away, it can become a huge plumbing issue. Those tiny drops of water coming out of the faucet add up quickly. The result is large amounts of water waste and a high water bill.
Some of the primary causes of leaky faucets include:
  • The O-ring, which helps seal the faucet, has become loose or worn out
  • An accumulation of water sediments have caused the valve seat to corrode
  • The washer is worn out, improperly installed, or not the right size
When you repair leaky faucets, you will you sleep peacefully without the annoying drip of a leaky faucet. You will also lower your water bill and prevent leaking water from damaging your home.

2. Stop Running Toilets

Like a leaky faucet, a running toilet may seem like a minor annoyance. However, a toilet that continues to run after you flush it, wastes a lot of water. Also, a running toilet doesn’t flush as well, which increases the chances of waste blockages in your bathroom’s pipes.
Some of the most common causes for a running toilet include:
  • The toilet has a leak
  • The flapper seal or flush valve is broken
  • The tank has too much or too little water
  • The fill valve is in need of replacement
  • The toilet handle is old or corroded
  • The toilet chain inside the tank is broken

A running toilet is usually an easy fix, but if you can’t do it yourself. Contact a plumber and check to see if there are any other issues with your pipes, sewer lines, or water heater. It’s not always the best idea to wait until there is a plumbing emergency to speak to plumber.

3. Pay Attention to Your Drains

Do the drains in your sinks, tubs, or showers drain too slowly? If so, it most likely means you have clogged drains. Some of the most common culprits for clogged drains include:
  • Hair
  • Soap
  • Food waste
  • Mineral buildup
  • Small objects
  • Tree roots

If you lose a lot of hair in the shower, get a special guard for your shower drain that catches the hair. To keep food waste from clogging your drains, never use your sink or garbage disposal as a trash can. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but regular drain cleaning will help with that.

For soap buildup removal, get your pipes pressure cleaned on a regular basis. Prevent mineral buildup by installing a water softener. You should also avoid putting certain foods and objects down your drain. These include foods that expand, like pasta and coffee grounds, as well as fat, oil, and grease.
Never flush feminine products, diapers, disposable wipes, tissue paper, cotton balls, or paper towels down the toilet. You will also prevent clogged drains when you use less toilet paper. As a general rule of thumb, the only things you should ever flush are human waste and toilet paper.
When you plant new trees and shrubs, make sure they are far enough away from your house so that the roots will not clog the drains. If tree roots are the cause of clogged drains, call a plumber to assess the situation.

4. Check the Water Pressure

You can check whether your water pressure is too high or too low with a water pressure gauge. To do this, hook the water pressure gauge up to a faucet. Check your baseline water pressure by turning off all the faucets. The water pressure should be between 30 and 80 psi.
If your water pressure is too low, you’ll need more time to fill the tub, take a shower, or wash dishes. Additionally, your clothes and dishes might not get clean enough. Water pressure that is too high can damage fixtures, increase your water bill, and cause appliances to break down sooner.
Hidden leaks, mineral buildup in the pipes, and the location of your home, are all causes of water pressure problems. Adjusting your water pressure is an important part of plumbing maintenance and is something a plumber can help you with.

5. Drain the Water Heater

Another important part your plumbing that you don’t want to overlook is your water heater. You should drain your water heater on a regular basis. This will get rid of sediment that builds up in the bottom of the water heater. If you do not drain the sediment, your water heater will not work as efficiently. If the water heater has a lot of sediment, it might stop working altogether.

If you need help maintaining your plumbing, contact Windy City Rooter Inc. We provide a variety of plumbing maintenance services. If you have not properly maintained your plumbing, and you experience a plumbing emergency, we can help with that as well. Serving residents of Chicago, Antioch, Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Evanston and across Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois since 2016.

For Immediate Service Call: (847)-838-4000

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