Being a first-time homeowner comes with many new responsibilities, including taking care of your plumbing. You may have dealt with clogged garbage disposal or even assisted family members in patching up a leak, but dealing with plumbing problems on your own and in your own home is an entirely different story. In this blog post, we’ll cover some tips for new homeowners to help you get started on the right foot with your plumbing.
Locate The Main Valves
Every home has a central line shut-off valve in the basement or crawlspace, near the water heater, under the kitchen sink, or in a covered utility box. Ask your inspector or real estate agent if you’re unsure where it is. During a plumbing emergency, turning off your main line reduces the likelihood of water flooding your home and destroying your property.
Clean Drains Regularly
Clogs can be a major nuisance, but if you clean your drains regularly, they won’t get clogged in the first place! Kitchen and shower drain accumulate a lot of debris, dirt, grease, hair, and soap, which leads to clogging. Install a catcher or remove solid objects to keep them from falling into the drain. Unclog any debris you find and follow it up with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This will help prevent buildup from occurring again.
Check for Leaks
You might think you know where all your plumbing is, but it’s important to double-check. Check for leaks in your water heater and toilet tanks and any pipes leading away from them. Look closely at the floor around each fixture to see if moisture is present or if there are spots of discoloration. If so, you leak! Repair it immediately by calling a plumber.
Get a Heating And Plumbing Inspection
Heating and plumbing inspections are required to prevent plumbing problems from causing damage to your home and costing you a lot of money. Regular inspections reveal problems early on and help determine which repairs should be made immediately.
Make Your House Pipes Weatherproof
Protecting your home pipes, particularly during the colder months, will save you a lot of money (and headaches) in the long run. You can prevent frozen pipes by keeping the temperature in your home above freezing, insulating your water pipes, and allowing a bit of water to drip from faucets during cold weather.
Have Your Emergency Items Ready
You need to have your plumbing kit within your reach always. When an emergency occurs, such as a water leak, you should gather your tools and prepare to solve the problem. A plunger, paper rolls, duct tape, a screwdriver, and towel rags are necessary for the job.
Don’t Hesitate to Call a Plumber
Don’t hesitate to call a plumber when you have a plumbing emergency. It’s important not to try and fix the problem yourself if you aren’t sure what you’re doing. You could end up making things worse or causing damage that will cost more than just hiring someone who knows what they’re doing in the first place.
Gray Plumbing can help you with all your plumbing needs. Our team is trained, experienced, and ready to go in an emergency. We’ll be there when you need us and will work quickly so that we can get the problem resolved as soon as possible.
