Love is in the air this month. It is Valentine’s Day again and that means thinking about the little – or BIG – gesture you will do to show your special something that you care.
But, your partner is not the only thing that needs some TLC. Your plumbing system could always use a check-in. Just like you take your car or truck in for an oil change every 3,000 miles, your plumbing system needs a regular maintenance schedule.
Add these few tips for regular maintenance and keep your plumbing system in top working condition:
- The main water shut-off valve is good to know about in the event of a broken water pipe or flooding water heater, where the water just keeps coming. Make sure that all of the members of your household, who are the appropriate age, know where the valve is and how to turn it off. Also, stay clued in to the valves on the individual plumbing appliances in your home – i.e., the toilet. This could make a huge difference in the amount of mess you have to clean up if a toilet overflows.
- Each 10-minute shower that is take in your home uses 20 gallons of water. This means, making sure that your showerheads are properly maintained. Add to your maintenance plan a reminder to remove each showerhead in your home, and clean it using a bowl of diluted vinegar and water. This will help to break down any build up that could be clogging the output of water.
- You interact with your plumbing system on a daily basis, so take a couple of seconds to make sure that nothing looks out of the ordinary. Open up the bathroom cupboard after you take a shower and make sure there isn’t any leak, check the kitchen sink after you use the garbage disposal and make sure nothing is clogged. These regularly check-ins will go a long way to avoiding a plumbing failure.
The best way to prevent water from out from under your kitchen sink is to check the faucet and fixtures, yes even the ones in the cabinet under the sink, on a regular basis. Don’t wait for a leak to clue you in that there is a problem. With leaks comes water damage and that could mean replacing the whole section of cupboard.