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Avoid Costly Summer Repairs: 10 Preventive Plumbing Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Preventive Plumbing Maintenance Tips: Discover 10 essential tips to help homeowners avoid costly repairs and keep your plumbing running smoothly this summer.
Published:  August 26, 2024

To protect your property as a homeowner, you need to take care of your whole house, including the plumbing system you use every day. Taking care of your plumbing is important for having clean water coming in and getting rid of waste. 

A lot of people don't think about their pipes until something goes wrong. That being said, they are now stuck with a huge mess and a big bill. Regular plumbing repair can help you avoid this by finding small problems early on, before they get worse and cost more to fix. Maintenance can also help you save money on energy bills and water.

Making sure your home's plumbing works right is the best way to avoid plumbing problems, save money on energy costs, and protect water for future generations. You need to take care of a problem right away if it happens. Here are 10 plumbing maintenance tips that will help you escape having to pay a lot of money for repairs this summer.

1. Daily Maintenance Tips

What you do every day can have an effect on your pipes. One of the most common plumbing problems homeowners have is clogs, which can be avoided with daily upkeep. Clogs are not only a pain, but they also shorten the life of your waste lines by putting extra stress and pressure on them. It is best to clear out a clog before it completely blocks the drain since even a slow drain can be a problem. Even better, keep things from getting clogged in the first place.

  • Advice for the kitchen: Do not pour oil or grease down the sink in the kitchen. This includes fats and oils used for cooking, like butter, that can solidify in the pipes and stop the flow of water.
  • Bathroom Tip: To keep drains from getting clogged, use less bath oil and put screens over drains to keep hair from going down them. Do not flush things like tampons and wipe down the toilet. Only flush human waste and toilet paper.
Majewski Plumbing - Preventive Plumbing Maintenance Tips

2. Weekly Maintenance

Checking on your pipes once a week is a great idea for all homeowners to prevent small problems from becoming huge, costly ones.

  • Check under the sinks for signs of water, like pools of water, watermarks, a musty smell, and growing mold.
  • Check the speed and drainage of all sink and bathroom drains. If bubbles show up as the water drains, it means the drain is moving too slowly. Every sink should have a full swirl as the water goes down.
  • You should be able to get water to come out of all of your faucets when you turn them on.
  • Clean out the lint traps in your washer.

3. Summer Seasonal Maintenance

The best time to have your septic system checked out is in the summer. The plumber's job is easy because the ground and air are warm. A sewer backup or a clog in your main sewer line is a very bad problem. When it rains a lot, water can get into cracks in your sewer system and cause backups. All of these problems can be avoided by keeping up with your pipes.

  • Get your septic system checked out regularly.
  • Get your septic tank pumped if you need to. A checkup can tell you when the best time is to do this.
  • Record breaks and the time between them.
  • Plan to have your sewer main snake regularly if tree roots are usually causing problems.
  • If you want to avoid future water problems, you might want to have trees with problematic roots cut down.
  • Make sure the sprinkler heads that are built into the ground are clean and working properly so that you don't damage them when you mow the yard.
  • Make sure your yard hoses aren't broken before you use them. Hoses can crack or dry rot in the winter, which makes them more likely to leak. You can patch up water lines, but if they are cracked in more than one place, you should get a new one. 

4. Maintain Your Water Heater

Flushing your water heater tank often to get rid of dirt buildup can affect how well it works and could shorten its life. Check your water heater's temperature setting and make any necessary changes to keep it from getting too hot in the summer. To get rid of mineral buildup in a tankless water heater, flush it with vinegar or a descaling product. Regular repair on your water heater makes it more energy efficient and extends its life, which saves you money in the long run.

5. Check for Leaks

A lot of water can be wasted and a lot of damage can be done over time by leaks. Check your pipes, appliances, and plumbing items often for signs of leaks. Check for puddles, water marks, and musty smells. Also, listen for sounds of water dripping. Fix any leaks right away to stop water loss and avoid having to pay for expensive fixes.

6. Inspect and Clean Gutters and Downspouts

If you keep your gutters and downspouts clean, water will not pool around your home's base during summer storms. Clean out your gutters of leaves, sticks, and other junk, and make sure the drains point water away from your house. With this easy maintenance job, you can help keep your basement from flooding and getting damaged by water.

7. Test Your Sump Pump

If you have a basement, you need a sump pump to keep it from flooding. Before it starts to rain, make sure your sump pump is working right by testing it. Get rid of any trash in the sump pit and clean it out. You might also want to add a battery backup to keep the pump running when the power goes out.

8. Prepare for Vacation

If you plan to vacation during the summer months, prepare your plumbing before you leave. Shutting off the main water supply can prevent leaks or water damage while your home is unattended. Consider draining your pipes to remove any remaining water and reduce the risk of frozen pipes if you live in a colder climate. Enlisting the help of a reliable neighbor or friend to periodically inspect your home during your absence can provide peace of mind.

9. Address Hard Water Concerns

Hard water, which has a lot of minerals in it like calcium and magnesium, can make your pipes clog up and your plumbing systems work less well. If you see limescale buildup on taps, showerheads, or inside pipes, you might want to install a water softener to make your water less hard. A plumber who knows a lot about water quality can help you protect your plumbing system. 

10. Consult with a Professional Plumber

If you're not sure about the state of your plumbing or run into problems that you can't fix yourself, you should talk to an experienced plumber. Plumbing systems can be tricky, and if you try to fix them yourself without the right skills, you could make the problem worse and have to pay more to fix it. A licensed plumber can give you expert advice, spot possible problems, and do the repairs or maintenance work that needs to be done quickly and correctly. With their knowledge, they can help make sure that your plumbing works well all summer.

Majewski Plumbing - Preventive Plumbing Maintenance Tips

Get Your Plumbing Services Today and Avoid Costly Repairs 

If you need help getting your home plumbing ready for summer, Majewski Plumbing is here to help. We are one of the best-reviewed and most-rated plumbers in Cape May County, and we do all kinds of plumbing work, from repairs and installs to regular upkeep. Our team has been providing excellent plumbing services for over 30 years and focuses on energy efficiency. We offer same-day service and can make sure your plumbing system is in great shape.

Get in touch with Majewski Plumbing right away to set up your preventative plumbing repair. Then you can enjoy a stress-free summer knowing that your fixtures are in great shape.

Majewski Plumbing

1275 Bayshore Rd
Villas, NJ
08251
(609) 374-6001
https://www.majewskiplumbing.com/

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