The plumbing system in your house is a crucial but often overlooked component that keeps daily life running smoothly. This is especially true in places like Long Island, where the weather can fluctuate, putting extra strain on your plumbing. From hot showers and clean drinking water to flushing toilets, we rely heavily on our plumbing.
Repairing plumbing issues can be particularly costly in Long Island, given the high cost of living and specialized labor. Therefore, it’s essential to have a proactive maintenance plan to avoid unexpected plumbing emergencies. With the right strategy, you can ensure your system is in top shape year-round, saving you both stress and money.
In this post, we will discuss 5 preventative maintenance methods that can help you stay ahead of issues and extend the life of your plumbing.
Contents
1. Insulate Exposed Pipes
Protecting your plumbing system and house from the harsh winter weather is as simple and effective as insulating your exposed pipes. Two well-liked methods for insulating pipes are heating tape and foam pipe insulation. They keep your plumbing system operating efficiently and reduce energy waste.
Pay close attention to pipes in cold or poorly insulated places, like crawl spaces, garages, and basements. These are especially prone to freezing, so taking precautions in these areas can spare you the hassle of having to deal with a broken pipe. Pipe insulation acts as a barrier against the cold to stop freezing and helps keep your water at a consistent temperature, which saves electricity. Because insulated pipes maintain the temperature of hot and cold water, your water heater or air conditioner won’t have to work as hard, which can result in cheaper energy costs.
You can also seek a professional plumber’s help, especially if you live in a place with snowy and cold winters, such as Long Island, where the risk of freezing is higher. Moreover, some parts of Long Island are close to the ocean, and saltwater intrusion can affect plumbing systems. Salt can corrode pipes and fixtures, leading to leaks and other problems. If you are seeking professional assistance, you can look up the keyword Long Island plumbing company near me and find a variety of skilled professionals
2. Regular Inspection
It’s important to maintain your plumbing system to avoid expensive repairs and water damage to your house. The most important piece of advice for maintaining your plumbing is to conduct routine checks. Potential problems can be identified with a keen eye and some basic information; you don’t need to be a professional plumber to do this.
Examine your home’s exposed pipes visually first, paying particular attention to spaces like utility rooms, basements, and under sinks. These are excellent places to look for warning indications of disaster. Seek out any obvious signs of leaks, water damage, or rust, as these can be early indicators of upcoming plumbing issues. Dealing with them early on can help avoid worse problems later on.
Moreover, be especially mindful of the spaces surrounding plumbing-related appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters. Look for any indications of wetness, standing water, or water damage. If left ignored, these appliances can result in serious damage.
3. Monitor Water Pressure
One important but often ignored plumbing maintenance task is checking the water pressure in your home. Although having high water pressure may seem like a blessing for your faucets and showers, it can put a lot of strain on your plumbing system, increasing the risk of leaks, burst pipes, and other problems. The strength of your plumbing can be compromised by this increased pressure, needing expensive repairs and possibly causing water damage to your house.
Moreover, it is advisable to check your water pressure regularly and make any necessary adjustments to keep it within acceptable levels. Buying a water pressure meter from your neighborhood hardware store will make this task simple for you. Connect the meters to the drain valve on your water heater or an outside faucet to monitor your water pressure. Your home’s water pressure, expressed in pounds per square inch (PSI), can be accurately monitored with a pressure meter.
The majority of households get water pressures between 40 and 60 PSI. Installing a pressure regulator to lower your pressure to a safe and manageable level is advised if it is higher than this range.
4. Be Mindful of What Goes Down the Drain
You should be careful about what goes down your drains. The consequences of neglecting this simple advice can be far-reaching and costly. To maintain a smoothly functioning plumbing system, avoid disposing of grease, food scraps, hair, and non-flushable items in your sinks and toilets.
Grease, for instance, may seem harmless when it’s hot and in liquid form, but as it cools, it congeals and solidifies in your pipes, creating a sticky barrier that can lead to blockages. Food scraps, such as coffee grounds or fibrous vegetables, can also accumulate and obstruct the flow of water.
Hair is another common culprit, as it easily tangles within pipes, providing a scaffold for other debris to latch onto, creating stubborn blockages. Moreover, non-flushable items, like wet wipes, can lead to toilet clogs and potentially damage your sewage system.
5. Check Your Water Heater
A vital part of your plumbing system, your water heater provides hot water for showers, laundry, and dishwashing, among other necessary household chores. Regular maintenance on your water heater is essential to preserving its performance and extending its lifespan.
Over time, sediment accumulates in the bottom of the water heater tank due to the settling of minerals and debris from your water supply. This buildup may insulate the burner or heating element, reducing its efficiency and making your water heater work harder, which could result in damage and higher energy costs. By removing these sediments, flushing the tank helps make sure your water heater is working at its best.
Moreover, you must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations included in the owner’s manual for your water heater to flush properly. The procedure usually entails shutting off the electricity, attaching a hose to the tank’s base drain valve, and allowing the water to run into a bucket or adjacent drain. Repeating this method once a year or as directed by the manufacturer will help to keep your water heater operating at peak efficiency.
Conclusion
Maintaining your plumbing system is an intelligent investment in the long-term savings, safety, and efficiency of your house. Maintaining your water heater, keeping an eye on water pressure, and doing routine inspections are essential steps in avoiding expensive plumbing problems and guaranteeing that you always have access to hot and cold water. By following this advice and maintaining your plumbing system proactively, you can reduce the possibility of emergencies, save money on energy costs, and take pleasure in a trouble-free plumbing system for many years to come.
