9 Useful Tips to Keep Your Plumbing System in Perfect Working Condition

Plumbing maintenance is often at the bottom of most people’s to-do lists. Unlike car repairs or lawn care, it’s not something that homeowners have to deal with on a regular basis. However, without proper care and maintenance, your plumbing system will begin to show signs of damage and it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself with a full-blown plumbing emergency.

While you won’t be able to prevent every issue from popping up over time, you can take proactive steps to reduce the number of problems that your plumbing system encounters. In this article, SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning is pleased to share a few tips to help you keep your plumbing system in tip-top shape. SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning is a top-rated plumber San Luis Obispo County homeowners can trust when it comes to quality and affordable plumbing services. 

Tip no. 1 – Inspect Your Pipes Regularly

To maintain your San Luis Obispo home’s plumbing system, you need to inspect it on a regular basis. By catching potential issues before they become a major plumbing problem, you can save yourself time and money in the long run. The best way to check your plumbing system is by conducting simple pipe inspections regularly.

The most important places to look are behind the toilet, under the kitchen sink, and along exterior water pipes. If you find rust or corrosion on any of your old pipes, it’s time for some serious repairs. If they’re not attended to quickly enough, they can lead to leaks, pipe rot, and other serious problems.

Tip no. 2 – Upgrade Your Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances

If you’re looking to replace your current appliances, consider models that are more water and energy-efficient. Many of the most recent home appliance models don’t require as much hot or cold running water to operate efficiently. This not only reduces wasteful use but also helps conserve natural resources such as gas and electricity.

If you’re looking for an effective way to reduce your water use, you can also consider upgrading all of your household fixtures with low flow models. This includes faucets and showerheads in addition to water closets and dishwashers. While they may seem like minor upgrades at first glance, together they can save you hundreds of gallons of water each year.

Tip no. 3 – Keep Your Drains Unclogged

One of the most common causes of clogs in your plumbing system is food waste that’s allowed to go down the drain and sit in pipes until it hardens. If you’re not vigilant enough to keep your drains unclogged, you could end up with major plumbing problems on your hands.

The best way to avoid clogs is by investing in good-quality drain screens and strainers. These will catch most food waste before it has time to settle into pipes and create plumbing problems. If you do find yourself with a blocked pipe, it’s best to call in an expert plumber to help you professionally unclog it.

Tip no. 4 – Don’t Flush Foreign Objects Down The Toilet

Another common cause of clogs and blockages in your plumbing system is flushing things down the toilet that don’t belong there. While you might think that flushing things like paper towels and cotton balls down the toilet is harmless, it’s not. They can easily clog your pipes and lead to major problems later on.

The best way to avoid this problem is by sticking with flushing just toilet paper and human waste. The truth is, your plumbing system is particularly designed to handle only these items. Anything else you flush down the toilet runs a serious risk of clogging up pipes and creating a major plumbing problem in the long run.

Tip no. 5 – Drain Your Water Heater Regularly

Like most home appliances, water heaters will eventually accumulate a buildup of sediment and scale. If you don’t drain it out on a regular basis, it will start to slow down the heating process and use more energy than necessary. This is something that plumbers SLO call “water heater efficiency loss”.

If you want to avoid this issue, it’s best to schedule professional draining and flushing of your tank-type or tankless water heaters at least once a year. If the sediment builds up faster than that, then more frequent flushes will be necessary.

Tip no. 6 – Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners can be very effective at clearing out clogs and other blockages in your home’s plumbing system but they can also cause major damage if not used properly. These chemicals are completely corrosive and highly toxic, so it’s best to avoid using them as much as possible.

The best way to keep your plumbing system in tip-top condition is by keeping clogs and blockages at bay. By understanding the most common causes of these plumbing problems, you can take proactive steps towards avoiding them altogether.

Tip no. 7 – Remove Hair from Drain Openings

One of the most frequently overlooked causes of clogs and blockages in your plumbing system is hair. Long strands of human hair can easily wind up tangled in drain openings and cause problems. If you don’t get rid of them, they can eventually work their way far down your pipes and create major clogs.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to clean your bathroom and remove hair from drain openings regularly. For best results, use a drain strainer or hair catcher to do the job. They are cheap and easy to install, so there’s no reason not to have one inside your bathroom.

Tip no. 8 – Maintain Your Septic Tank

If you have a septic tank, it’s vital that you keep up with regular maintenance. If not, there is a serious risk of contaminating nearby groundwater and causing some very expensive problems down the road.

The best way to keep your septic tank in tip-top shape is by having it pumped on a regular basis. If you’re not sure how often this needs to be done, talk with your local plumber about the optimal schedule for your home or business in San Luis Obispo County. They will also be able to inspect your tank and let you know if any problems need immediate attention.

Tip no. 9 – Get Your Plumbing System Inspected Annually By Trusted San Luis Obispo Plumbers

Regular maintenance and inspections are some of the most important steps you can take to keep your plumbing system running as smoothly as possible. By having an expert plumbing company come out to your San Luis Obispo home or business to conduct a full inspection, you can catch any potential issues before they become major plumbing problems.

Professional and reliable plumbers in San Luis Obispo like the ones at SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning will be able to identify issues with your plumbing system and set you up with a maintenance plan that works for your budget. They can also help you pinpoint the most common causes of clogs, leaks, and other plumbing issues so you can make sure these don’t happen again anytime soon.

You can also ask for yearly maintenance packages that include drain cleaning, water heater flushing, and general inspections of your piping system. If you take advantage of such plumbing services, it will help keep your system running smoothly and efficiently year after year.

Contact an Expert Plumber San Luis Obispo Residents Can Trust

If you are looking for a reliable plumbing company in San Luis Obispo County and the surrounding areas, SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning is the plumbing business to call. They specialize in residential and commercial plumbing services, including drain cleaning, pipe repair, installation of tankless water heaters, sewer line repair/replacement, faucet repair, slab leak repair, and more.

SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning is a family-owned and locally-operated San Luis Obispo plumbing service provider with more than 33 years of experience in the industry. In addition to providing quality and affordable plumbing services in the greater San Luis Obispo area, they are also fully insured, licensed, and bonded, so you can rest assured that your home or business is in good hands. There is no better choice for plumbing services in San Luis Obispo County than SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning.

Contact SLO County Plumbing & Drain Cleaning today at (805) 273-8655 and discover why they are one of the top plumbers San Luis Obispo residents can call for all of their residential and commercial plumbing needs. Customers may also check out their website at https://slocountyplumbinginc.com to schedule an appointment today.

• 
  +