Putting a Stop to Leaking, Flooding and Clogs

You expect your home’s plumbing system to support daily chores and plumbing fixtures, but potential problems can hide everywhere. Fortunately, you can prevent obstructions, leaks and even flooding with a little routine care. Here’s how you can keep your water flowing and your worries at bay.

1. Keep Foreign Debris Out of Sink Drains

A lot of sinks in the kitchen may be equipped with a garbage disposal, but several things still need to be thrown away or put in a compost heap, {and never dumped into the drain, including:

• Grease from cooking
• Stringy foods like corn cobs and celery
• Old food like cooked rice or coffee grounds
• Tough pieces of food such as fruit pits and bones
• Anything that isn’t edible. Silverware and similar items can accidentally fall into the disposal and cause damage when you turn it on.

2. Be Aware of What Not to Flush

Toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

• Baby and/or wet wipes
• Paper towels
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Women’s hygiene products
• Baby diapers
• Dental floss
• Out-of-date medications

3. Employ Drain Strainers

An easy method to prevent clogs is to place drain strainers over your kitchen sinks and bathroom drains. They collect hair, pieces of soap, old toothpaste and other debris as water runs down the drain. Stick to a regular schedule when you clean these strainers to keep your drains flowing freely.

4. Know Where the Main Shutoff Valve Is Located

Being knowledgeable about your plumbing system means knowing how to find your main water shutoff valve. This valve manages water entering your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to close this valve before leaving town for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home in the ground.

5. Install a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump will go a long way toward preventing flooding, particularly in areas prone to lots of rain. This device extracts water that collects in something called the sump basin, usually found in the basement, and expels it away from the house. If you already have a sump pump, make sure it’s in good shape by dumping some water into the pit. If the pump activates and the pit drains, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t seem to be working properly, you have time to call a professional to service your sump pump before another rainstorm.

6. Set Up Flood Alarms

Just as smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms can help avoid water damage. These hardwired or battery-operated devices detect water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, setting off an alarm to alert you. For enhanced protection, add smart flood alarms into your home security system. This notifies you on your phone once water is detected, helping to address leaks before it leads to significant damage.

7. Put in a Backflow Valve

Many plumbers recommend you put in a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to stop sewage from flowing backward into their homes after heavy rainfall. Professionals can set up this useful defense against sewage flowing back into the house.

Spot and Prevent Leaks

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home system of plumbing pipes and fixtures is concealed, so leaks often go unseen until they create the potential for water damage. Regularly checking for leaks can help you identify problems quickly. Here’s how:

• Inspect under the sink for signs of standing water, rotting wood or mildew.
• Be on the lookout for slow leaks in any of your toilets by putting in a few drops of dye to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, there is a leak.
• Check around and behind your kitchen appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaks.
• Conduct a water meter test.
  • First off, turn off all water in your home via the main water lines.
  • Then, go outside to read the water meter. Verify the reading again in two hours, and make sure not to use any water before the second reading.
  • If the reading is different, you know there’s a leak somewhere.

Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing

In cold climates, protecting the plumbing pipes is a good part of any plan to avoid freezing and bursting. Here are some professional recommendations:

• Wrap the pipes in insulation in unfinished spaces like the basement, garage or attic using foam tubing or heating tape.
• Remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets during the winter to prevent ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep all cabinets with plumbing pipes open during cold spells to keep warm air circulating around the pipes.

Trust Dependable Local Plumbers for Support

While you can implement many preventive steps yourself to help prevent clogs, leaks and flood damage, sometimes it takes an experienced plumber to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where can help. We work with some of the best plumbers serving U.S. homes from coast to coast with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely happy with our services by next year, we will do whatever it takes to make it right. This promise shows how we deliver total comfort and peace of mind in your life. For Expert plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today