The plumbing in our home is probably something most of us don’t think about very often – until there’s a problem. Even though it’s not very visible, our home plumbing systems get a lot of use every day – from the kitchen sink to the commode. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to keep your home’s plumbing system running smoothly. Keep reading to learn more!
5 Tips That Can Help Keep Your Plumbing Working Properly
As a homeowner, you know that leaks or clogs in your plumbing system can spell disaster. Here are a few tips that can help keep your plumbing working as it should.
- Don’t pour grease down your kitchen sink. In many instances, kitchen plumbing issues stem from cooking grease being poured down the kitchen sink. That’s because the grease will cool and solidify in your pipes, causing a clog when combined with food particles that find their way down the drain. It’s best to pour grease into a container and dispose of it in the garbage when it cools.
- Keep some items out of the garbage disposal. Not everything can or should go down your home garbage disposal. Egg shells, larger bones, coffee grounds, and tea bags can all wreak havoc with a garbage disposal, causing the blades to stick and the motor to burn out. It’s best to scrape whatever scraps may remain after a meal into your trash and use the disposal to grind up small bits of meat, fruit peels, and smaller bones (like from fish).
- Make sure to clean the dishwasher occasionally. Like your sink, your dishwasher drain can become clogged with food particles and grease. It’s a good practice to rinse any large bits of food off of dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. You can also clean your dishwasher now and then by adding two cups of vinegar and one cup of baking soda to the dishwasher and letting it run empty for a cycle.
- Use a drain strainer in the shower. Your shower drain is susceptible to clogs because of hair, soap scum, dead skin, and products like conditioners that flow into your drain. The hair and conditioner can form a blockage over time. Brush your hair before showering to minimize the amount of hair going down the drain, and clean your drain with a solution of vinegar and baking soda occasionally. And, as we mentioned, invest in an inexpensive drain strainer to keep hair and small objects out of your drain.
- Only flush waste and toilet paper down your toilet. Nobody likes to think about their toilet backing up. Fortunately, this can be easy to avoid by only flushing waste and toilet paper. Keep baby wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, and personal care products out of the toilet, and never flush items like cigarette butts, plastics, or textiles down the commode.
When you need plumbing supplies, Charlie Johns can help.
At Charlie Johns, we carry a wide variety of plumbing products in our hardware section, so there’s no need to go to a big box store. And, there are always friendly staff people on hand to help you find just what you’re looking for. So, stop into Charlie Johns today, and see what we have in store for your home and camp plumbing needs!