As we near the end of 2023, it’s safe to say that you’ll hear many people planning their resolutions or goals for the new year. While these will likely vary from person to person, it’s definitely good to have something to work towards. Given that this is a blog all about different plumbing-related topics though, we wanted to utilize this week’s blog post to talk about a handful of “plumbing” resolutions that homeowners may want to consider for 2024. From having a plumbing system that looks better (with modern fixtures) to improved maintenance resulting in less repairs throughout the year, there are a number of different ways in which you can better manage your plumbing system in the upcoming year. Keep reading to learn what resolutions we recommend working towards in the 12 months ahead!
Maintenance. Maintenance. Maintenance.
For those that have read some of our previous blog posts, you may notice that maintenance is a rather frequent topic of discussion and for good reason! I’m going to guess that most homeowners would prefer to spend their money in ways other than frequent plumbing repairs, right? Yes, there are always going to be various home improvement or repair projects that simply arise due to general wear and tear. However, if you can limit the frequency in which those occur, that would be worth the effort! Well…when it comes to your plumbing system, a little maintenance throughout the year can go a long way.
Flush your water heater: While every plumbing component serves a unique importance, you can’t deny the water heater is something you’ll want working each and every day. Due to the mineral build-up that can occur as a result of hard water, it’s always going to be a good idea to add a water heater flush to your annual to-do list. This will just ensure your water heater isn’t put through more wear and tear than it needs to!
Clean faucets and showerheads: Speaking of hard water, have you ever noticed calcium deposits that accumulate on faucets and showerheads? It definitely doesn’t have the prettiest of appearances and can even affect the performance of these plumbing fixtures too. Rather than procrastinate on this easily-overlooked maintenance task, add faucet and showerhead cleaning to your to-do list as well! Here’s a hint: vinegar is going to be your best friend in removing the calcium deposits.
Test your sump pump: Even though we won’t be able to cover every single maintenance task that you’ll want to complete throughout the year, another easy one to add to your list would be testing out the sump pump from time-to-time. Without a doubt, the sump pump is an excellent tool in limiting the troubles that can be caused by water damage. However, considering it won’t likely be running every day, you might not know for sure that it’s working correctly. And if there’s a problem that arises when it’s actually needed, that won’t be the funnest of times! So…make sure to periodically test it out by pouring water in the pit and confirming whether it properly transfers the water from the pit through the discharge line to the outside.
Find a Local Plumber You Can Count On
No matter if you’re a first-time homeowner, recently moved to a new area or have simply never needed any plumbing repairs, there is value in having a local plumber that you can count on! After all, you don’t want to find yourself scrambling to find someone reliable when a plumbing issue pops up, especially if that problem is an emergency and requires immediate assistance. Make 2024 be the year that you find a go-to plumber that you can rely on for all things plumbing!
Upgrade Out-Dated Faucets
As we’ve mentioned many times before on past blog posts, faucets are the perfect example of a plumbing fixture where physical appearance plays a role in the purchasing process. Having said that, homeowners are always interested in finding a faucet that matches the surrounding elements in their bathroom or kitchen. And with a plethora of options available nowadays, you’ll have no trouble finding something that matches flawlessly. Our next resolution for 2024 is going to involve upgrading any fixtures that may be a little out-dated or simply not working as effectively as they once did. Over the years, fixture brands have consistently improved their products. Increased efficiency in terms of how much water is used, added features like voice-activated capabilities, stunning new finishes, you name it! Long story short, if you’re looking to make a few changes to your bathroom or kitchen and don’t want to start a complete remodeling project, then consider upgrading some of the faucets. As I alluded to above, there are so many possibilities available and you’ll surely have a blast browsing through them. Just take a peek at our Instagram page and you’ll see a handful of the different faucets we’ve installed for Kansas City homeowners and local businesses.
Add to Your Plumbing System With a Water Softener
With many of the plumbing items that we’ve already discussed, you’re going to find these in the majority of houses. Faucets are a great example of that! However, there are additional components that may not be in every house, yet can definitely be a nice benefit and water softeners are something that would fall into that category. When we were talking about flushing your water heater and cleaning calcium deposits off faucets, one term that we referenced was hard water. You may be familiar with some of the effects of hard water and if you’ve lived here in Kansas City for a little while, you’ve likely even dealt with it (as the Kansas City area definitely has some hard water). Unless you’ve considered investing in a water softener though, you may have simply thought these annoying effects of hard water were unavoidable.
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, water softener installation is certainly a service that we receive a fair amount of calls in regards to. With the presence of hard water as I mentioned above, this should come as no surprise. Well…if you’re looking for something new to add to your plumbing system and feel the other fixtures are in pretty good shape, it might be worth looking into a water softener system! You’ll want to take into account factors such as the home’s overall square footage, number of household occupants, type of system, maintenance associated with the different brands and even the location of where you would have it installed. If you’re interested in some water softener recommendations, don’t hesitate to give us a call!
Don’t Have a Kansas City Plumbing Company to Call?
If you live in or near the Kansas City area and don’t have a local plumber that you’re confident in, we would love to have the opportunity to earn your trust! Our team of experienced plumbing technicians have been serving the KC community for years. Water heater installation, sewer line repair, drain cleaning, you name it! We hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are ready to ring in 2024. While plumbing likely isn’t something you’ll think about very often, we hope this blog post provided some clarity as to a few different things worth doing to keep everything running smoothly. From all of us at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we wish you a Happy New Year!