The introduction of indoor plumbing represented mankind’s ultimate mastery of nature once and for all, allowing him to harness and control the most important of all elements for life. In fact, civilization is only possible near clean water, and it was only the introduction of plumbing that allowed us to grow beyond these restrictive natural borders into the worldwide species we are today.
Home plumbing systems changed the way we live forever, and when plumbing problems occur it can be a major problem, cost, and inconvenience. That’s why following a plumbing maintenance schedule in your home is so important, and all homeowners should be familiar with what needs to be done regularly to keep their pipes in good condition and prevent expensive plumbing repairs.
Plumbing Maintenance Tips
To avoid high water bills, clogged pipes, or any other necessary repairs, plumbing needs regular care on a maintenance schedule to work properly. Like any other complicated system, leaks, clogs, and other issues can build up over time due to regular usage. Preemptively resolving these issues will save money and time in the long run.
Having regular maintenance performed by licensed plumbers is ideal, but there are also some basic things every homeowner should do to keep their sewer system and other plumbing fixtures in good condition. Every homeowner should check for visible leaks in their plumbing system, avoid clogged drains and clean them regularly by flushing with hot water, and keep an eye on their water bill for any sudden changes. If your bill jumps suddenly, you may have a leak somewhere in the piping.
If you notice any indoor water damage, a leaking water heater, or hear any noises of water moving or spraying in the walls when it shouldn’t be, like when all taps and faucets are off, you should call a local plumber immediately. Water issues can quickly cause permanent structural damage to a house, and any problems should be resolved immediately. Next, let’s look at what a routine maintenance checklist would look like for a plumber.
Common Plumbing Maintenance Routines
If you wait to inspect your plumbing pipes until you need emergency repairs, it can cost you greatly in the end. To avoid messy sewage backups, keep water flow strong, and protect your water supply, a plumbing professional should perform the following maintenance on your home’s plumbing at least once a year.
Job #1: Check for Leaks
While you will hopefully notice a major leak quickly and obviously, sometimes pipes can have minor leaks that are only detectable by someone with training and equipment. Even minor leaks can raise your energy bills, leave water stains, damage the house, and pose a threat to your health by creating mold.
During a regular plumbing maintenance routine, a plumber will also check for toilet leaks, along with examining the faucets and exposed pipes. However, the ability to check for less obvious leaks using a pressure gauge, dye testing, or leak detection devices like cameras, and fix them before they cause a serious issue is one of the most important aspects of a plumbing maintenance checklist.
Job #2: Drain Cleaning
While basic cleaning can be done by every homeowner, only a plumber can truly get drains and pipes cleared without using corrosive drain cleaners that risk damaging your pipes and the seals in your plumbing system. During a routine plumbing maintenance routine, a plumber will inspect all faucets, spigots, and other areas like the kitchen and laundry water hookups for blockages or buildup and make sure drains are working properly.
While anyone can work a plunger and free a minor clog, only a plumber has access to tools like motorized drain snakes, hydro jetting tools, and other machines used to quickly and effectively clear items like tree roots from your home’s plumbing system. This will help your pipes stay in better condition, raise the water pressure, and keep the shower drains, sewer lines, and other pipes draining quickly.
Job #3: Water Heater Maintenance
Hot water is truly one of the things the modern world takes for granted the most. The ability to simply turn a tap and have unlimited hot water at our fingertips is a luxury that even the most powerful kings of the past could have never dreamed of. Washing machines and hot showers are two of the things that most of us couldn’t live without.
However, it all relies on your hot water heater, and it’s important at least once a year to have a professional flush the water heater tank and check for sediment buildup, check for leaks, test the pressure relief valve, and make sure that everything is working properly. This will prevent repairs and issues in the future and make sure you aren’t wasting energy.
Job #4: Check Garbage Disposal
If you have a garbage disposal in your house, checking on it regularly is an important part of keeping your kitchen sink working properly. A plumber will inspect it to make sure that the motor is working properly and that there are no blocks, obstructions, or other hazards.
Part of taking care of your drains regularly is to avoid putting large items, silverware, or grease down the drain or into the garbage disposal. This will help it last longer and work better, saving you money on repairs.
Job #5: Sewage Maintenance
Whether you have a main sewer line or a septic tank, routine care and inspections are important to avoid a plumbing emergency. This is one of the most important aspects of your plumbing system to keep in good shape, so don’t neglect to have it checked.
A plumber will check the components in the toilet tank, check for toilet leaks, examine the septic system, make sure septic tanks are functioning, and make sure all sewage systems are up to plumbing codes and working properly. This will prevent you from having to deal with frustrating sewage issues down the line.
Job #6: Outdoor Faucets
One area that people often overlook is checking the outdoor spigots and other outdoor plumbing. Garden hoses should be running properly, and the yard should drain water properly. The shutoff valve should work to fully cut off all water to the house, with no drips or leaks from even just one faucet.
This may involve plumbing work like checking the pipes, seals, and other plumbing fixtures in crawl spaces or other hard-to-reach spaces. Plumbing leaks can be found anywhere, and an outdoor leak can lead to high water bills and lower water pressure in the house.
Winterization and Seasonal Maintenance
In the winter, frozen pipes can cause serious damage, and seasonal upgrades are important for the change to warm air. Often, a plumber will use the shutoff valves, check water hoses, prepare for freezing temperatures, and winterize a home’s plumbing for changes in the weather.
Over time, this is one of the most important plumbing maintenance tips and will provide important benefits to your plumbing system. If you want it to last a lifetime, you have to prepare your pipes for cold temperatures and other seasonal changes. If you have a septic tank or a sump pump, it will need to be prepared for winter, especially if the ground freezes.
Water is Life
It’s a simple truth that all people instinctively know, especially those cultures without clean running water: water is life. That’s why many people agree that indoor plumbing is among the greatest and most important inventions of all time, along with the wheel, computers, and artificial intelligence.
It may seem that sink drains, toilets, and showers are a modest part of everyday life, but the reality is that our fragile world is built upon the work of plumbers. The invention of plumbing has saved more lives than every doctor and charity combined, preventing billions from suffering due to humanity’s most lethal enemy of all: disease and plague.
However, there are simpler reasons to follow these plumbing maintenance tips. It will save you money, keep your water pressure high, and help you have a more comfortable and happy life. While there’s a lot you can do in your house to keep drains running like preventing clogs and cleaning them where you can, only a plumber can perform the tasks that really need to be done.
Doing so will save you money in the end. Routine plumbing maintenance as opposed to when you dramatically need repairs in an emergency is much more economical, and is a good idea for any home or business owner. Contact a plumbing maintenance company today to discuss the schedule that will work best for you!
