KEEP TRACK OF YOUR WATER HEATER’S AGE
Household appliances aren’t made to last forever, at some point, they will break down. It is no different for your water heater. A very well maintained water heater might provide 20 years of service. But at some point, it will give out.
It is important to keep track of your water heater’s age. When it bursts, it will send gallons of water all over the surrounding area. Not only will floors, carpet and walls get soaked, but there will then be the potential for mold.
If your plumber helps maintain your water heater, they will have a good idea of when to have it replaced. We suggest you heed their advice.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE WATER HOSES
Water hoses are something that many homeowners totally forget about. In fact, you may go through a washing machine or dishwasher without swapping out the water hoses. Unfortunately, that is a bad habit.
Water hoses are just like anything else in your house, they won’t last forever. Swapping these out is a fairly simple and inexpensive task and should be done every five years. It could save you a hefty water clean-up bill.
DIY PLUMBING
We understand that there are many of you who are pretty handy with a set of tools and may even know a thing or two about plumbing issues. And while replacing or repairing certain plumbing components is impressive and will save you money, trying to handle issues you know nothing about could lead to disaster.
Adding in the cost of fixing something you have messed up isn’t a way to save money. By calling a qualified plumber for certain issues will have your problem correctly resolved from the onset.
USING CHEMICALS TO FIX PROBLEMS
When it comes to fixing clogged drains and toilets, some people are all about using chemicals. Understand that these are only temporary solutions. Worse still, many of these chemical fixes can and will cause future plumbing issues.
If you experience a clog, try a plunger, snake or call the plumber.
WATCH WHAT YOU FLUSH
Your toilet can withstand a lot of abuse, but it just isn’t meant to suck down everything when that handle is pressed. You might already know not to flush Q-tips, diapers and feminine products down the toilet, but you should also avoid flushing products that claim to be flushable.
ABUSING YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL
While it might be convenient to wash everything on your plate down the drain, it is a bad habit that could damage your garbage disposal.
Your garbage disposal isn’t a trash can and shouldn’t be used as such as it isn’t built to handle all of the scraps you throw down it. You should avoid putting fibrous food, grease and coffee grounds down your drain.
HAIR DOWN THE DRAIN
Many of you make the mistake of standing over the sink to shave or letting hair go down the shower drain. Unfortunately, hair sticks to the soap deposits clinging to your pipes and will eventually clog your drains. Mix in a drain basket in your shower and bathroom sink and catch the hair before it causes problems.
IGNORING SMALL LEAKS
When you notice a leak in your plumbing system, you need to get it repaired right away, no matter how small it is. That small leak not only negatively affects your water bill, but it will also cost way more to fix it in the future when it inevitably gets worse.
So do the right thing and call American Drain Company right away.