Five easy tips to keep your home running smoothly and efficiently

1. Get to Know Your Plumbing System – An important first step in maintaining your home plumbing is knowing where your pipes are. AND, If you had an emergency, would everyone who might be home alone know how to shut off all water? It’s a good idea to share your knowledge of where the shut-off valve for your plumbing is located. We can help if you need assistance on this. The same applies for your main gas shutoff.
2. Checking for Leaks – It is important to check your plumbing system for leaks regularly. Leaking water can be expensive on your water bill, but in a worse case scenario it can cause significant damage to your home. To be certain you have no leaks, check the dials on your water meter at a point when no water will be used, and re-check it several hours later. Any change would indicate water movement through the piping, indicating a leak.
3. Maintain Your Hot Water Tank – The average life of a hot water tank is about 11 years, though often they can begin to have leaks or other problems, long before the average life expectation. Check the sacrificial rod annually, and replace it if necessary. This is a great way to extend the life of a storage tank water heater.
4. Maintain Your Drains – It is important to have your drains checked and cleaned by a professional on an annual basis before they malfunction and drain your wallet. Tree roots are a common problem, which can be detected with a sewer camera. It is much more cost-efficient to maintain your drains than to have to pay for an excavation and replace them.
5. Know Your Limits – What may seem like a simple plumbing job can quickly become a catastrophe if not handled properly by a professional. Unless you are a licensed plumber, you should rely on a professional to at least guide or possibly help you through some of the more challenging tasks.