Common Household Plumbing Tips

Almost every room under your roof is somehow connected to your home’s plumbing system. So when plumbing issues occur, it can impact your daily routines and cause additional stress.

To avoid common plumbing problems and to keep things running smoothly, Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning offers these household plumbing tips for several common areas of your home.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a common area for plumbing problems. Sink faucets and drains, garbage disposals and dishwashers are all linked to your home’s plumbing and drain system. These areas typically need of maintenance, repair or replacement at some point. The plumbers of Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning recommend these simple tips to avoid major plumbing problems and maintain the kitchen plumbing in your home.

• Run cold water down the drain for 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal to thoroughly clear out the waste.
• Never put dense, stringy or fibrous waste down the drain. Avoid putting poultry skins, fruit and vegetable peels and bones into the disposal.
• Dispose of grease and oil in the trash. Grease and oil can cause drain clogs.
• Clean faucet aerators to ensure optimum water pressure.
• Routinely clean your dishwasher to make sure it is free of food debris and grease to eliminate odor and buildup.

These precautionary measures will help prolong the longevity of your kitchen’s plumbing and can ultimately protect you from potential plumbing problems.  If you have any further questions about kitchen plumbing or are in need of service, Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning plumbers here to help 24/7.

Bathroom

The bathrooms in your home are frequently used, and when things aren’t maintained well, plumbing problems can quickly arise if issues are ignored. Rapid-Rooter plumbers offer these helpful tips to keep your bathroom plumbing running properly.

• Repair leaky faucets and fixtures to avoid damage and costly water bills.
• Pay attention to your toilets. Do not ignore a leak or constantly running water. Turn off water if issue is severe and get necessary repairs.
• Run hot water down your bathroom sink drains weekly to help keep them free-flowing.
• Fit showers and tubs with strainers to catch hair and soap, and be sure to clean them regularly.
• Remember, your toilet is not a trash can. Do not flush sanitary products, tissues, cotton balls or diapers, as they can and will cause drain clogs.

The tips above will help keep your bathroom’s plumbing functioning at its best! As always, Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning is available to help with bathroom plumbing maintenance and repairs. One of our plumbers can be there fast when you have a plumbing emergency.

Laundry

Think of all the laundry that would begin to pile up if the water from your washing machine suddenly didn’t drain properly. Most households rely heavily upon their laundry plumbing systems; therefore, it is important to maintain them. Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning suggests the following tips to prevent plumbing problems and flooding in your laundry room.

• Inspect washing machine hoses. Replace rubber hoses with stainless steel braided hoses. They last longer and are more resistant to leaks and cracks.
• Consider replacing an older model washing machine with a more energy and water efficient front-loader.
• Only run your washing machine when it has a full load.
• Make sure all drains have strainers to keep hair, soap and debris from creating clogs.
• Use a strainer on your washing machine hose to prevent lint from entering the drain line.
• Install a flood alarm to alert you when water from a washing machine leaks.
• Check pipes under sinks for signs of leaks.
• Have your water heater flushed once a year. Flushing will improve heating efficiency by removing buildup and reducing the need for an untimely water heater installation.

Laundry plumbing maintenance will ultimately help prevent plumbing problems. Our skilled plumbers are very knowledgeable and able to provide laundry plumbing maintenance and repair. Call Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, we are available 24/7 for your convenience.

Outdoor

Though we typically think of plumbing only inside of our homes and businesses, the plumbing outside is equally important. The plumbers at Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning have compiled tips to ensure the plumbing outside of your home is working properly.

• Clear leaves and debris from yard drains, gutters and downspouts.
• Check plumbing vent pipes for bird nests and other debris.
• Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely. If you discover an outdoor leak, a pipe may have cracked and needs to be repaired.
• Have your septic tank inspected and pumped every 3-5 years to ensure proper operation.

Following these outdoor sewer and drain maintenance tips will not only help maintain the functionality of your home’s plumbing, but should also save you from preventable costly repairs. If you would like outdoor plumbing assistance or are in need of any other plumbing or drain service, do not hesitate to call on Rapid-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Cleaning.