Plumbers see the same problems again and again, and most of them start with something small. Here are the ten things we wish every homeowner knew.
1. Know where your main shutoff is
Find it today, before you need it, and make sure it turns. In a leak, it's the difference between a wet floor and a flooded house. How to shut off your water.
2. Grease doesn't belong in the drain
It goes down as liquid and hardens on the pipe walls. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and throw it away, or pour cooled grease into a can.
3. "Flushable" wipes aren't
They don't break down like toilet paper, and they snag in pipes and sewer lines. Only toilet paper goes in the toilet.
4. Skip the chemical drain cleaners
They often don't clear the clog, they can damage older pipes, and they make the job dangerous for the plumber who comes next. Use a plunger or a drain snake, or call.
5. Small leaks become big ones
A drip, a damp cabinet floor or a toilet that rocks are cheap to fix now and expensive later. And a water bill that jumps for no reason can mean a hidden leak. See leak detection.
6. Hard water is working against you
Valley water leaves scale in water heaters, faucets, showerheads and appliances. Clean aerators, flush the water heater, and consider a softener or salt-free conditioner.
7. Your water heater needs maintenance
Flushing out sediment helps it last longer and run better. Tankless units need regular descaling here. Signs your water heater needs replacing.
8. Check your water pressure
Above 80 psi is too high and wears out everything. An inexpensive gauge from the hardware store, screwed onto a hose spigot, tells you in a minute. High water pressure: signs and when to check.
9. Look at your supply lines
The flexible hoses feeding toilets, faucets, the washer and the water heater don't last forever. Replace any that are bulging, cracked, kinked or rusty at the ends. A burst one floods fast.
10. Don't wait to call
Gurgling drains, sewer smells, slow drains in more than one place, or rusty hot water are warnings. Calling early usually means a smaller bill. See signs of a sewer line problem.
Bonus: know your cleanout
Find the capped pipe in your yard that opens into your main sewer line. What a sewer cleanout is and where to find it.
Questions? OX Plumbing answers 24/7.