The Basics of Home Plumbing Maintenance
New Year’s resolutions are supposed to be about making people’s lives easier and better. That’s why this year, homeowners should resolve to take care of their home’s plumbing system.
Keeping up with maintenance will prove much more accessible than dealing with an emergency plumbing situation. Drain cleaning and annual maintenance for both pipes and water heaters can be an easy resolution to keep.
DIY and Professional Methods of Drain Cleaning
Maintaining clean drains is the first line of defense against sewer line clogs. There are many ways to perform drain cleaning safely, and some can even be done with readily available household items.
The list below covers safe methods that homeowners can use themselves and methods used by plumbing professionals.
- The Hot Water Method: This drain cleaning method is simple. A person either boils water and pours it down the drain or allows hot tap water to run down the drain for several minutes. As the universal solvent, hot water can help clear the drain of food particles that tend to congeal at lower temperatures.
- The Baking Soda/Vinegar Method: Most people know of the effervescent reaction between sodium bicarbonate(baking soda) and acetic acid(vinegar). The bubbling action can help clear the drain. A person simply needs to pour baking soda down the drain, allow it to settle, and pour vinegar down afterward. This not only helps clean the drain, it can help remove odors as well.
- Drain Snaking: This professional method of drain cleaning and clog removal uses a long, flexible tube with a spiral attachment to physically remove the junk caught in the drain. This is typically an effective and safe method.
- Hydro Jetting: This is the gold standard of professional drain cleaning. This method uses a high-pressure stream of water to punch through any debris and send it down into the sewer. This method is the least likely to cause collateral damage and is highly effective.
Any of these methods can be used on a home, but one method that should not be employed is chemical drain openers. These may clear a drain, but they can also cause damage to pipes that will make it more likely for them to clog again.
Take Advantage of Annual Plumbing Maintenance Services
It is best to get a home’s plumbing checked out every year. A professional can see potential problems and correct them before they cause significant damage and can prevent an emergency down the road.
This practice gives the homeowner peace of mind and prevents the awful and expensive collateral damage that can come with a plumbing emergency. Some of the tasks that a plumbing technician will perform during an annual maintenance check are listed below.
- Checking and tightening pipe connections
- Checking appliances
- Checking garbage disposal
- Checking the hot water heater
- Checking faucets and toilets for proper function
- Checking for hidden leaks
Rely on a Plumber for Water Heater Maintenance
Maintenance of the water heater is almost as important as maintaining the whole plumbing system.
Having the connections checked, the tank cleaned, and the anode rod replaced by a professional are just a few of the essential things involved in water heater maintenance. Keeping up with maintenance means hot showers and clean laundry and dishes without surprises.
About Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc.
Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. has served the people of Green Bay, WI, and the surrounding communities for over 40 years. Call today for background-checked and highly trained techs with state-of-the-art equipment providing the best drain cleaning service around!
