21 Tips for Keeping Your Home Plumbing in Good Order

We don’t realize how vital our water supply is until something goes awry and suddenly, the sink won’t drain, or the toilet won’t flush. Here are 20 tips for keeping your home plumbing in tip-top shape.

Kitchen

1. If you have a garbage disposal, always run plenty of cold water through to clear the waste. Cold water will keep the greasy bits in a solid state for breaking down.
2. When possible, avoid putting grease down your sink. Remove as much as you can from dishes and pans using paper towels.
3. Periodically flush your sinks with super-hot water as it will help melt the grease deposits that have accumulated in your pipes.
4. Clean periodically using 1/2-cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for a half hour, then flush with extra-hot water.
5. Remove and clean the faucet aerator periodically using vinegar (if you have hard water or mineral buildup).
6. Always use your sink traps to keep food out of the plumbing.
7. Make sure your dishwasher air gap is clean and working properly (check and clean it periodically).
8. Fill sinks completely a couple times a month and drain to flush the line.

Bathroom

1. Clean traps and remove hair, soap bits, and other debris. Use a vinegar and baking soda solution, followed by a hot water rinse for monthly maintenance.
2. Keep traps in place to catch debris.
3. Avoid dropping large bits of unused toothpaste into the sink as toothpaste does build up in the drain.
4. Avoid thick toilet paper as it can cause septic clogs.
5. If you have a water-saving toilet, go ahead and flush twice for number two (it helps clear the line).
6. Don’t flush sanitary products or paper towels down the toilet.
7. Fill tub and sink a couple times a month and drain to flush out the line.

Laundry Room

1. Use traps in the drains.
2. If your washer drains into the sink (this was common in older homes), be sure to buy and attach a sock trap for outlet hose to keep lint out of the drain.

Outdoor Faucets

1. Install frost-proof faucets with vacuum breakers to prevent backflow contamination.
2. Remove hoses during the winter asthe number one cause of outdoor faucet failure is when frozen water expands and cracks pipes.
3. Drain water from the line at the faucet, and if you have an inside line drain valve, drain it there too.
4. Use your shut-off valve in the winter.

Proper maintenance is important for keeping your home plumbing in order, but should you have any issues you can get free plumbing quotes from our website. For home troubleshooting, check out our septic line and septic tank articles.