How to Prevent Leaking, Flooding and Clogs

You expect your home’s plumbing system to operate efficiently, but potential problems can hide everywhere. Fortunately, you can avoid obstructions, leaking and water damage with a little preventive maintenance. Here’s the way to keep your water running and your worries at bay.

1. Keep Foreign Debris Out of Sink Drains

Your kitchen sink may be outfitted with a garbage disposal, but several things still rather than rinsed down the drain, like:

• Grease, oil and cooking fat
• Fibrous foods like corn and stalks of celery
• Sticky foods like cooked rice or coffee grounds
• Solid objects like gristle and bones
• Anything that isn’t edible. Silverware and other small items can fall into the disposal and damage something when you turn it on.

2. Be Aware of What Not to Flush

Toilets are designed to dispose of human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

• Wet wipes
• Paper towels
• Soft cotton
• Sanitary products
• Baby diapers
• Floss
• Expired medication

3. Employ Mesh Strainers

Another effective way to lower the risk of a clog is to place sink strainers over your kitchen sinks and bathroom drains. They collect hair, bits of soap, crusty toothpaste and other debris as water flows down the drain. Regularly clean these strainers to keep your drains running smoothly.

4. Find the Main Shutoff Valve

Being familiar with your plumbing system means knowing how to find your main water shutoff valve. This valve regulates water entering your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to close this valve before going away for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home in the ground.

5. Get a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump can really help prevent water damage, especially in climates prone to heavy rainfall. This device pumps out water that accumulates in a sump basin, usually found in the basement, and expels it away from the house. For homes that already have a sump pump, check it every now and then by pouring water into the pit. As long as the pump activates and the pit drains, it’s working fine. If it isn’t draining properly, you have time to call a professional to fix the pump before the next big storm.

6. Put in Flood Alarms

Similar to how smoke alarms are essential for fire safety, flood alarms can help avoid water damage. These wired or battery-operated devices sense pooling water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, setting off an alarm to inform you. For enhanced protection, include smart flood alarms into your home security system. This notifies you on your phone once water is detected, helping to deal with leaks before they cause significant damage.

7. Add a Backflow Valve

Another helpful plumbing tip is to set up a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to keep sewage from flowing back into their homes because of heavy rainfall. Local expert plumbers can fit this useful defense against sewage backflow.

Learn to Recognize and Prevent Leaks of All Sizes

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home system of plumbing pipes and fixtures is out of sight, so leaks often go unseen until they are capable of significant water damage. Regularly checking for leaks can help you identify problems quickly. Here’s what to do:

• Inspect under the sink for signs of damp spots, wood decay or mold growth.
• Find tiny leaks in any of your toilets by adding some drops of food coloring to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, there is a leak.
• Examine around and behind your plumbing appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaking.
• Have a professional perform a water meter test.
  • First, turn off all water in your home via the water main.
  • Then, head outside to check the water meter. Check it again after two hours, being careful not to use any water before the second reading.
  • If the reading goes up, you know there’s a leak somewhere.

Keep Your Pipes from Freezing

In climates with cold winters, helping protect your pipes is vital if you want to avoid freezing and bursting. Here are some tips:

• Cover pipes in the appropriate insulation in unheated areas like the basement, garage or attic with foam tubing or heating tape.
• Unhook garden hoses from their spigots all through the winter to prevent ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during frigid weather to encourage airflow around the pipes.

Work with a Reliable Plumber

While you can implement a wide variety preventive steps yourself to minimize the risk of clogs, leaks and damage from floods, sometimes it takes a professional touch to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where can help. We are a network of plumbers supporting U.S. homeowners from coast to coast with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your level of service up to a year later, we promise to make it right. This industry-leading dedication shows how we strive to make a meaningful difference in your life. For professional local plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today