Avoiding Common Plumbing Problems

Your home’s plumbing plays an integral part in your daily life. As such, a little plumbing knowledge can go a long way toward avoiding some of the most common plumbing problems you’re likely to experience at home. The more you know about your plumbing, the better you’ll be able to tackle minor issues, as well as recognize when you need to call your Anderson plumber for professional help.

Cleaning Your Shower Drain

Shower drains often clog when hair, soap scum, dead skin cells, and dirt wash down the drain and collect into blockages. Keeping your shower drain clean can prevent backups that can cause inconvenience and water damage to your bathroom’s finishes. Never pour harsh drain cleaning chemicals down a slow shower drain—this can damage the plumbing and lead to bigger problems down the road. Instead, remove the drain cover with a screwdriver and use a shop vacuum or hand auger to break up and remove clogs to prevent complete blockage of the drain. You can also reduce the likelihood of clogs by using a mesh drain cover during showers; make sure to empty the drain cover in the trash after each use.  

Testing Your Water Shutoff Valves

In case of an emergency, your home’s water main and every individual line that sprouts from it have an emergency shutoff valve. Knowing where these valves are can help you act fast in case of a plumbing issue, allowing you to shut off the incoming water and prevent flooding or water damage. In most homes, the main water shutoff valve is located near your water meter. Once you have found the main water shutoff valve, test it periodically to make sure it will work when you need it. Additionally, every plumbing fixture (tubs, toilets, sinks, washing machines, etc.) should have its own shutoff valve. These valves are located near the wall on the water line leading to the fixture. You should test these valves periodically as well to ensure you can turn them easily to shut off the water to an overflowing appliance or fixture, should the need ever arise.

Checking Your Water Pressure

While water pressure that is too low can make it difficult to enjoy showers and wash clothes or dishes, water pressure that is too high can damage your plumbing. Banging pipes when you turn the water on or off could indicate high water pressure in your home. If you have periodic water pressure issues or are concerned that your water pressure may be too high, you can measure the pressure of incoming water with the help of an inexpensive water pressure meter, which you can purchase from your plumber or at a hardware store. Attach the water pressure meter to an outdoor hose bib and follow the instructions that come with the meter for reading your water pressure. If your home’s water pressure reads above 75 psi, contact your plumber. He can install a pressure regulator to reduce incoming water pressure and prevent plumbing damage associated with excessively high water pressure.

Avoiding common plumbing mistakes and mishaps will help to keep your life stress-free and protect your home’s plumbing system. You can learn more about plumbing maintenance and DIY repairs by checking out the articles on our blog. Visit our website to learn more about our professional plumbing services in Anderson, SC, including drain clearing, backflow prevention, and sewer repairs.