Home Owner Plumbing Tips
- Know where your main water shut off is located, keep it accessible. Close and open it a couple of times each year to keep it working. (be sure to open a faucet and have it running as you open and close the valve)
- If you have a bathroom you rarely use, go in once a month or so, flush the toilet, and run some water through the faucets. Lack of use is much harder on plumbing than constant use. This tip also applies to rarely used bar sinks.
- If you are leaving your house for an extended period of time (a month or more), turn your main water valve off, and open one faucet long enough to let the water pressure drain down and then close it. If you have a water softener, bypass it.
- Shutting off appliances. Know how to shut off water to sinks, toilets, washing machines and water-using appliances like the refrigerator's ice-maker.
- Spot the sewer access points. Know the location of the household's main sewer clean-out location. It's there to provide access to clean a clogged sewer line.
- Save in the shower. Keep showers short and sweet. You can also save water — and money — by installing a low-flow showerhead, which use up to 50 percent less water than older models.
- To remove unsightly mineral deposits on your shower head, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag and place it over the shower head. Hold it in place with a twist tie and let stand overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and wipe off the mineral deposits with a damp cloth.
- Do not use your toilet as a wastebasket. Do not flush facial tissue, cotton balls, make-up pads, sanitary products or diapers as they do not dissolve and can clog the lines. Keep a trash container in each bathroom and toss these items away.
- Look under your sinks. Check for signs of small leaks. Early detection may save you from experiencing a larger leak.
- Listen to your water heater. When a gas water heater begins to pop and crackle as the burner is running, this is a sign of scale build up. This will reduce the amount of hot water and decrease the efficiency of the water heater.
