Plumbing Maintenance: Caring For Your Water Lines And Pipes

Waterlines and pipes are unseen and often unthought of components in our homes. 

For many of us, the only time we think of our plumbing system is when something goes wrong with it.

However, ignoring your plumbing can cause big issues in the long run.

And who has time for that?

The best thing to do is to have daily, monthly, and yearly maintenance practices in place to keep your water lines and pipes running smoothly. 

With some preventative care, you can avoid large, time consuming, and costly damage to your pipes, water lines, and home itself.

Marquez Plumbing has been proudly serving homes in San Benito county for 23 years. Today we will discuss some of our guidelines for caring for your water lines and pipes.

Daily Maintenance

Be Careful What You Allow Down Your Drains 

Grease can wreak havoc on your pipes and eventually make its way to your sewer lines. For the sake of your home and your wallet, it is vital that you never pour grease down your drains. 

You should also always be careful to scrape your plates thoroughly in a trash can to avoid a build up of junk in your drains.

The same goes for your garbage disposal. Use it sparingly and never put anything greasy down it. When you do use your disposal, be sure to keep your water running. 

You may not see the damage of putting grease down your drains immediately, but over time it can cause your plumbing to have severe clogs. 

Be Careful What You Flush

Some people flush a host of things down the toilet, almost viewing it as another garbage. 

But flushing things like tampons, paper towels, or leftovers can really damage your plumbing system. 

Your toilet and plumbing are not designed to handle anything other than human waste and toilet paper, so do yourself a favor and only use your toilet the way it’s intended.

Use A Drain Guard

In the shower and in your sink, using a drain guard can save you a lot of hassle.

Hair build up in your shower drain is nasty, but it can also be problematic for your plumbing if you don’t deal with it quickly. 

Using a drain guard is a good preventative measure so that you don’t need to check your shower drain as often.

In your kitchen sink, using a drain guard is also helpful. It can prevent chunks of food and debris from getting down your drain and causing as much build up. 

Monthly Maintenance

Clean Out Each Drain

Even with all your daily preventative measures, it is still important to clean out each of the drains in your home at least once a month.

As The Service Company – Plumbing and Drains says,

“Pipes and sewers back up when water and waste can’t flow freely, which can happen when gunk builds up on the inside of your pipes. 

So, you should clean your drains monthly, using an enzyme-based cleaner—not a chemical-based one that can damage your pipes. 

If you prefer a homemade solution, send some baking soda and vinegar down the drain, let the combination work its magic for 15 minutes or so, and then rinse with boiling water.”

Doing this may take a little bit of time each month, but it’s worth your effort in the long run. 

Annual Maintenance

Have Your Septic Tank Inspected 

Hiring a professional to inspect your plumbing is a great way to be certain there are no large issues looming.  

A good plumber will be well equipped to clean your tank, and diagnose any problems that need to be fixed before they grow out of control.

Fix Any Leaking 

Obviously, if you see a leak at any point throughout the year address it immediately!

Once or twice a year it’s a great idea to check all of your pipes, water lines, and appliances for any leaks that may have gone unnoticed.

As High Priority Plumbing and Services says,

“Fix leaking faucets and showerheads. Dripping faucets can waste a lot of water and that can add to your bill.  And if you don’t fix a dripping faucet or showerhead, the drip can get worse over time. 

 Those problems can cause water damage.  To prevent problems, check your facets regularly for leaks and make repairs as needed.  

Check the handles to make sure no water drips when the handles are turned to the off position and check underneath the sinks for water stains or drips when the water is running.”

This kind of maintenance is essential to keeping your house dry and free from costly water damage. 

Check For Tree Roots Near Your Septic System

Although plumbing problems often arise in your home, it’s important to realize that sometimes these issues originate outside. 

Trees growing too close to your septic system can cause some huge and expensive issues for homeowners. 

The roots of trees can cause blockages or damage to the water lines going to your septic tank. This can cause things to get backed up, or in severe cases stop working altogether. 

Being sure your septic system is safe from roots is very important to the yearly maintenance of your plumbing, and a good plumber can help you check for tree roots during an annual inspection.

Click now for a FREE inspection estimate from Marquez Plumbing.