Much like a tree, your home’s plumbing system branches off the main sewer line to every faucet, toilet, and drain in your home. The system is intricate, and a problem at any one of these branches can impact the effectiveness of the entire system.
Fortunately, regularly maintaining your drains and plumbing system as a whole is relatively easy, provided you know what to do (and what not to do). And when you take measures to take good care of your plumbing system, you’ll dramatically decrease its likelihood of developing drain blockages, leaks, and other issues that necessitate expensive repairs.
What do you need to do to take great care of your drains? Read on to learn five simple yet highly effective ways to maintain your plumbing system.
1. Get Your Drains Cleaned Regularly
At Drain Blaster Bill’s Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we’ve found that getting your drains cleaned regularly is one of the most effective ways to maintain your plumbing system as a whole. And that’s why we do what we do.
When it comes to drain cleaning, our team doesn’t simply go in and attempt to unclog the drain. Instead, we aim to get the drain and the entire pipe as clean as possible. Before we do anything to your drain, we analyze the drain to ensure we know what’s going on inside it and to detect potential problems you may not yet be aware of.
To do this, we use a micro-camera attached to a feed line that sends us real-time video footage of the interior of the pipe. Once we’ve fed the camera through the drain and diagnosed your system, only then will we get to work.
Scheduling drain cleaning as a routine service (ideally, once every year or two) is an excellent means of both fixing existing drainage problems and preventing future problems from occurring.
Not sure if your drains are due for a cleaning? Then check out Household Drain Cleaning: How Often Should You Have It Done? for more helpful information!
2. Know What Can Go Down Your Drains
If you’re like most people, you probably (albeit, unintentionally) take your plumbing system for granted on a daily basis.
With the plumbing working as it should, it’s all too easy to assume the plumbing system will work properly in perpetuity since it’s been working for years. But that’s not always true, especially if you’re allowing things to flow down your drains that shouldn’t end up inside your pipes.
Many moderate to severe plumbing problems are the result of prolonged misuse, and those problems often take a while to develop and become noticeable. For instance, constantly putting grease down your drains can create backups over time. The same idea applies to hair, food items, oily cosmetic products, and several other things.
The best way to avoid drain clogs and backups is to know what can and cannot go down your drains. Here’s a brief breakdown of the no-go items, if you don’t already know:
● Lard
● Cooking oil
● Fat from meat
● Baking goods
● Sauces
● Hair
● Solid objects (trash, toys, etc.)
● Paper products (aside from toilet paper – paper towels do not belong in your toilet!)
To be safe, you should only place liquids that are water soluble down your drain. Everything else should go in your trash can.
For a more in-depth breakdown of what doesn’t belong in your plumbing system, check out 7 Things to Never Put Down Your Drains and 13 Things You Shouldn’t Put in Your Garbage Disposal.
3. Only Use Cleaning Products That Are Plumbing Pipe Friendly
Over-the-counter, chemical-based cleaning products are another source of plumbing problems. Many of these products are harsh on your pipes and can prompt corrosion, which could deteriorate your plumbing system over time.
To ensure your plumbing system works as it should, you should purchase cleaning products that are mild, yet effective, such as enzymatic drain cleaning solutions.
If you’re unsure what you should and shouldn’t use, give us a call. Our team can help you identify the products that will work best for your system.
4. Heed Symptoms That Indicate Potential Plumbing Problems
When there is a problem with your plumbing, you will most likely see signs. You may notice a reduction in your water pressure or your drains may be slower than normal.
All of these problems are symptoms of a bigger problem. If you notice these problems, don’t ignore them! Schedule an appointment with a drain cleaning specialist who can remedy the problem before it gets significantly worse.
5. Prepare Your Plumbing System for Seasonal Changes
Every plumbing system should get a little extra TLC before winter hits and when the spring thaw is about to take place. Are you giving your plumbing system the seasonal attention it needs?
If not, your drains and pipes could suffer weather-related damage. And that’s especially true if you own an older home or have historically neglected to prepare your plumbing to handle common seasonal issues.
What kind of issues are we getting at here? Some of the most common seasonal plumbing problems we see include:
● Frozen and burst pipes during winter (which occurs when pipes aren’t properly insulated)
● Household water damage caused by pipe leaks (especially common when homeowners are away for the winter and forget to shut off the water main)
● Sewer line backups in the spring and summer due to excessive rainfall or tree-root intrusions in the drain line
● Septic system problems in the spring and summer due to improper usage
● Foundation water damage caused by clogged, backed-up French drains, also known as agricultural drains (check out how ag drains can damage your home)
How do you prepare your plumbing system for seasonal changes to avoid these issues? Check out our tips on preventing common summer drainage problems and tips for winterizing your plumbing for tons of helpful info!
Schedule Drain Cleaning in the Twin Cities
At Drain Blaster Bill’s Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we are more than happy to help you maintain your plumbing. We specialize in comprehensive water jetting, drain snaking, household drain cleaning, commercial drain cleaning, ag drain cleaning, and more. We’re also more than happy to offer you advice that will help you avoid major plumbing problems.
To learn more about our services or schedule an appointment, give us a call today at 763-913-8719 or request a free estimate, and we’ll reach out with more information!