How to Extend the Life of Your Plumbing System

Proper Care and Usage

If you want to avoid having to deal with plumbing system problems, then start with proper care and usage. These are some tips to reduce the risk of having issues to begin with:

• Reduce Water Pressure: High water pressure can be nice when it comes to taking a shower or filling a stockpot, but it can also drastically reduce the life of your plumbing and increase the likelihood of a leak. Measure your water pressure with a hose bib gauge and make sure it is between 40 and 85 psi. Anything above this range should be adjusted.
• Avoid Chemical Cleaners: Many homeowners use chemical cleaners to maintain their drains, but these can damage pipes and even harm the environment.
• Soften the Water: Water with high mineral content, or hard water, can cause magnesium or calcium buildup in your pipes and restrict flow. Over time, this increased pressure can corrode joints and fittings. A water softener will dissolve minerals to prevent such clogs and pipe damage.
• Insulate Pipes: Pipes that are exposed to extreme temperatures can expand and contract, eventually cracking from this volatility. Insulate exposed pipes to keep their temperature constant. This can also save on electricity bills by keeping water hot.

Preventative Maintenance

Prevention is easily the best medicine. Periodically inspect your faucets and pipes to make sure everything is in order. Hire leak detectors like those at Leak Detection of Atlanta to check for hidden leaks before any water damage causes unnecessary expenses.

Prevent clogs by installing drain filters in bathroom sinks and drains to catch hair and other debris before they go into the drain line. Avoid flushing anything other than pee, poo, and toilet paper. Finally, don’t rely so heavily on your garbage disposal. Toss food scraps such as bones, eggshells, pasta, and fruit peels into the trash. Keep used grease, fats, and oils in a separate container to throw out later.

Get Repairs Done Urgently

It’s almost impossible to completely prevent damage to your plumbing system. When your pipes are damaged, though, it is important to get repairs done as soon as possible. Don’t postpone these repairs lest you are forced to get a replacement. Many plumbers provide 24-hour emergency services so that you can deal with such repairs on the same day you spot the damage.