Maintenance
Tips
An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s
plumbing in top working order – and you’ll avoid costly repairs!
Faucets and Sinks
- Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water,
as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right
away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes.
- Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
- Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear
and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
Water
Heater
- Before doing any maintenance on your
water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and read your owner's manual.
- At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Over time sediment
builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance, and draining a gallon or so helps remove the sediment.
- You should also periodically inspect your water heater
burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s
sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
- At least once every two years, have your water heater
inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for
corrosion
Toilets
- Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet
for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl
water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.
Clogs
- To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and
clean the strainer regularly.
- Do not rinse fats
or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
- Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain
that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can’t
snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.
Garbage
Disposal
- You can extend the life of your garbage
disposal by:
- Using plenty of cold water when
running it
- Making sure you avoid overloading it
- Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
- Never using a caustic drain opener.
Heating and Air Conditioning
- Maintenance Scheduling. Schedule a maintenance service call before the heating season starts. If
there are any problems with your system, it’s better to find out before it’s freezing outside! Do the same for
your cooling system before sweltering season begins.
- Filters.
Replace your heating and cooling air filters every month that they’re in use. Operating your system with old,
dirty filters means energy is wasted and your system may even be damaged. While you’re at it, check and clean the filters
in your home’s air cleaners and humidifiers.
- System
Checks.
- If you have a forced air heating system
check your furnace’s blower compartment and blower coils. Vacuum them if you see dirt and dust there. You should also
check fan belt tension, and lubricate fan and motor bearings.
- If you have a steam system, check the shut-off valve for leaks.
- Bleed hot water system radiators at least once a year.
- Don’t keep clutter near your furnace. It’s a fire hazard, and may keep your system from operating efficiently.
- To make sure you’re getting the most out of
your heating system, keep the heating registers and vents throughout the house free of dust, dirt, and pet hair by vacuuming
them at least once a year.
- Listen for odd sounds
when your heating or cooling system kicks in. If you hear anything unusual, get in touch with your service professional so
you can head off problems before they become serious.
- In
winter months, set your ceiling fan at its slowest speed and reverse it in order to gently push warm air down from the ceiling
without generating a breeze.
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