Plumbing Maintenance - What You Should Be Doing

Hiring a plumbing expert to manage your home's regular maintenance is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of big problems down the road. Every situation is different but it is quite common for individuals to allow problems to slip by until they become massive problems with expensive repair bills. The best way to avoid this is by taking steps to reduce the overall wear and tear on your system. Through a maintenance program, you can reduce these risks and increase the chances that your drains and pipes will work properly.

Types of Maintenance:
What type of plumbing maintenance should you be doing? Anyone that owns a home or building with any sort of water running to it or from it needs to do regular maintenance on the system. Many homeowners do not know that this system, like your HVAC system, needs annual inspection and care. Here are some of the things that need to be done to keep the system operating at its best level.

Inspections for any signs of leakage or moisture problems are one of the first concerns. A very small leak can occur and wreak havoc on your entire system. You may not know about it for weeks or months.

An inspection of the actual piping can help to reveal areas of potential corrosion. This can lead to leaks and poor connections over time. If there are any green stains on brass or copper piping or any yellow stains on steel pipes, this is an indication of corrosion.

The maintenance system should also inspect each drain including those associated with any skin, toilet, shower or floor drain in the entire structure. Slow drains often indicate a problem within, usually a clog or a slowing of the flow due to buildup along the sides of the pipe. It is necessary to remove that buildup to prevent a backup in the drain.

Plumbing maintenance should also include the removal of showerheads and other faucet heads to remove any type of sediment or buildup that collects within it. This can cause a lack of water pressure as a result.

The water pressure itself should be checked to ensure it is working properly. That way, you can know if there may be a problem in some area of the system.

Other types of plumbing inspections should involve the main train to the street, handles and interior working parts of toilets and any concerns related to appliances using water. This includes dishwashers, refrigerators and icemakers. Every system needs to be inspected and repairs made as needed to reduce the risks on your entire system. You should have a professional do this type of inspection at least once a year.