How Preventative Plumbing can Save you Money

Regular upkeep on all of your home’s pieces and parts will keep them operating in peak condition, which is sure to save you money.

The average cost of water and sewer utility service has risen steadily in the last several year. In fact, in 2015, the country wide average was up 6%, more than almost any other utility. Ensuring your plumbing is up to snuff will prevent leaks, which will prevent you from – almost literally – throwing money down the drain. If you want to fix this issue, we recommend reaching out to ServiceWhale to find the right expert contractors at the right price.

Your Plumbing System

The plumbing infrastructure of your house touches almost every room. Your kitchen and bathrooms, of course, but also the laundry room, mudroom or garage if you have a deep sink -and don’t forget the spigots on the outside of your home.

Furthermore, the rooms without taps and drains still share walls, ceilings, or floors with the piping from adjacent rooms.

Performing regular maintenance on your plumbing fixtures is sure to extend their lifespan (including big ticket items like your water heater and/or water softener) as well as prevent leaks. And preventing leaks will save you money two fold—keeping the plumber away, and saving you the repairs to other parts of your house from the leaking water.

The upkeep you need to do is often just a visual look, or something relatively easy. Follow these guidelines to ensure your plumbing is flowing smoothly. If something doesn’t look just right, you can always call in a pro to take a look. It certainly cheaper than remodeling after a leak!

Bathroom:

Start by checking your bathrooms, as bathrooms are most often the culprit behind expensive plumbing repairs. Look for leaky fixtures or faucets. Replace the Teflon tape between the spout and fixture if needed. You may also need to tighten connections or replace caulk.

You will also want to check and clean out any clogged drains (sink, tub, or shower). This can be done with a snake or a liquid, store-bought drain cleaner. This should be done whenever the drains start running slow, or at least every three to four months.

If you have a running toilet this must be addressed. With the cost of water on the rise, this constant flow of water is just money down the sink…err…toilet. Oftentimes this is a simple as removing the tank lid and bending the flapper arm to stop the flow of water. If that does not work, you can replace this assembly with simple, inexpensive pieces from the hardware store.

Lastly, clean the aerator of your faucets. Overtime calcium deposits can build up, obstructing water flow. These should simply screw off your faucets, but you may need pliers. Be careful not to squeeze too hard, as distorting the shape will make it harder to remove. You can rinse off accumulated sediment and then soak the screen in distilled vinegar. If the blockages are sufficient, you may need a trip to the hardware store to replace the aerator completely.

Kitchen:

The majority of plumbing concerns in the kitchen will come from your sink. You must periodically check it for leaks. This means check around the sink and counter, around the faucet, and the garbage disposal. Some leaks can be fixed as simply as tightening connections or replacing caulking. While you are checking your sink, much like in the bathroom, you should clean your aerators.

An often overlooked aspect to kitchen plumbing is drain upkeep. Food and other particles going down the drain can build up – even if you have a disposal. These must be cleaned using simple a snake or drain cleaner frequently. This will prevent buildup and also prevent smells.

Your Home’s Plumbing Health

Keeping up with the plumbing maintenance in your home is sure to keep things in tip top shape and save you money in the long run. If you want to make sure your plumbing is in prime condition, you can always call in a plumbing contractor. This is especially true if you haven’t kept up with maintenance. If you are now facing bigger problems, don’t despair.

You can contact a ServiceWhale screened plumbing contractor today to save yourself time, money and hassle – and still be sure to get a licensed and screened, courteous and reasonable plumbing contractor.