Pipes and plumbing won’t last forever, and with daily routine water use, your plumbing system is one of the hardest workers in your home.
This daily strain from constant water flow can wear down the piping system over time.
With winter around the corner, your plumbing system should be getting ready to take on some of the toughest months of its working year. Food scraps, oils, and fats put in your kitchens garbage disposal from the holiday cooked meals can cause unwanted hazards in your pipes.
Take care of your plumbing system this winter season with these tips to extend the life of your pipes.
Prepare Your Plumbing For Winter
Dropping temperatures can mean significant risks for your water pipes if the proper precautions aren't taken.
If you have outdoor faucets on your property, by shutting off the water supply for the winter season, you can save yourself a lot of trouble when it comes time to use them again. If the water is left running, the frozen buildup can cause pipes to burst inside or underneath your home and give you an unexpected holiday surprise.
Insulate Your Water Pipes
Insulating your pipes can get a bit pricey initially but can save you more, in the long run, by helping you avoid expensive repairs from winter pipe hazards.
Pipes in heated areas of your home are not at risk of freezing; however, water pipes in unheated places such as your attic, crawl spaces and garage are all exposed to the cold during the winter months and can cause trouble if not insulated properly.
Ice in your pipes can cause severe damage to your plumbing system. Having pipes in cold areas insulated is necessary for the preventative care if you want to protect your home from unwanted water damage.
Keep Your Drains Clean to Prevent Clogs
This Holiday season, turkey skin, oils, and potato peels should stay out of the garbage disposal.
Avoid unwanted clogs by staying mindful of what goes down your drains. Extending the life of your plumbing shouldn't involve draining your bank account for expensive repairs and reactive maintenance.
Drain covers are an inexpensive measure you can take for pipe protection. They help strain and intercept hairs, dirt and other unwanted particles out of the drain. This allows water to flow freely and prevent ice from forming in your pipes.
The kitchen isn't the only place to be wary of what you are putting down the pipes. Keeping floss, paper towels, sanitary products, and other non-flushable items out of the toilet bowl will help prevent the blockages from occurring.
If you end up with a clogged toilet, we recommend using a plunger and not chemical drain cleaners. Drain cleaning chemicals can cause further damage and result in your pipes corroding and cracking because it leaves behind hazardous residue.
If the plunger can’t solve your problem, a Linthicum Plumber professional can help you without risking your home's pipes.
Take Preventative Measures and Maintenance
Having a professional plumber inspect your plumbing and perform a routine tune-up at least once a year saves you time and money.
A professional can help identify potential plumbing issues and prevent expensive problems from developing.
Lithium Plumbing technicians are equipped with the right tools and knowledge to help extend the life of your plumbing with a necessary inspection.
Taking preventative care of your plumbing system will keep it running efficiently for many years to come.
Maintenance Your Water Heater
Water heater maintenance is a matter of safety and efficiency. Over time, sediments tend to build up in water heaters. These little minerals beat around the radiator, and then settle at the bottom, making it hard on the water heater system to produce hot water.
Flushing the water heater at least once a year could save you money and keep your home supplied with hot water, especially during the cold winter months.
Soften Your Water
Sediments are harmful to your water heater, pipes, and appliances as well.
Calcium, magnesium and other kinds of residues build up in water, creating ‘hard water.’ Hard water sediments can build up and create issues for appliances, such as your dishwasher, washing machine, and shower. It also builds up inside your pipes, causing corrosion and can clog the plumbing.
Installing water softeners will remove these harmful sediments from your water and eliminate hard water from developing. This small investment can extend the life of your plumbing system and water-based appliances.
Inspect Your Pipes Every Season
Each season presents different challenges for your home's plumbing system. Having a professional plumber inspect your pipes routinely for cracks or leaks can help prepare your piping for seasonal transitions.
Extend the life of your plumbing and let Linthicum Plumber professionals help you with an affordable inspection and prepare your home for the changing seasons.