Simple Ways To Keep Your Plumbing System In Top Shape
The plumbing system of your home is often forgotten when it comes to maintenance and daily care. The ease with which you can pull a handle and flush something away or turn the faucet on and watch something go down the drain makes it easy to take your plumbing and pipes for granted. Although the plumbing of your home can be quite complex, there are simple things you can do to make sure everything continues to flow as it should.
Don’t wait for there to be a problem before you think about taking care of your plumbing system. Follow a few simple steps and you’ll reduce the risk of needing professional plumbing repair from our expert team at Silver State Refrigeration, HVAC & Plumbing.
When You’re In The Kitchen….
To help you avoid problems with the plumbing in your kitchen, make sure to avoid putting certain things down the drain. A backed up kitchen sink can be a nightmare, not to mention a giant mess, so think twice about what you put in your sink.
- Never put any type of fat, oil or grease down the drain. FOG, as its called in the plumbing industry, is the biggest reason for a clogged kitchen sink. Fatty, oily and greasy substances easily go down as a liquid, but it will quickly congeal, solidify and then settle creating the perfect consistency to clog a pipe and trapping food and particles as they’re washed down
- Coffee grounds can cause a similar problem as FOG, so dump those into the trashcan instead
- Scrape food waste from your plate into the trashcan, instead of down the garbage disposal. A build up food can clog pipes and even damage your main water line
- Using a drain gate can help keep food and other particles from going down the drain and clogging your pipes
- Run hot water for a minute or two after you’ve finished doing the dishes. This will help push food oils and more through the pipes keeping it from getting stuck.
When You’re In The Bathroom…
The plumbing behind your toilet and sink are not invincible. There’s plenty that’s meant to be flushed away, so avoid putting anything in your toilet outside of what should be in there. Likewise, be careful what you wash down the bathroom sink.
- Avoid letting hair go down the shower drain or sink. Hair will easily catch in the sludge that naturally builds up in your plumbing system creating a nasty clog. Consider putting in a strainer over the drain so that you can easily gather hair and throw it into the trash instead.
- Only flush waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Feminine products, Kleenex, baby wipes, cotton balls and other things should not be flushed.
- Keep an eye out for soap scum. Soap scum is a byproduct of soap and hard water and it can quickly build up and clog a drain.
When You Need A Drain Cleaner…
Do not use store bought drain cleaners to address a problem with slow draining sinks or a known clog. These products have harmful caustic chemicals that can harm your plumbing more than help it.
A combination of baking soda, vinegar and hot water is one of the most effective ways to clean a drain. Pour some baking soda into your drain, let it sit and then pour one cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it work for 30 minutes and then clear it out by pouring very hot, or even boiling, water down the drain.
For more help keeping your plumbing in top shape, call our team of experts at Silver State Refrigeration, HVAC, & Plumbing today at (702) 433-5008 to schedule an appointment.
Silver State Refrigeration, HVAC & Plumbing
4535 Copper Sage Street Las Vegas, NV 89115
(702) 433-5008
