When it comes to managing a home’s plumbing system, there truly is value in having a basic understanding of the in’s and out’s of plumbing. Now, do you need to know how to make all of the repairs? Not necessarily, that’s what your local plumber is for! However, knowing what the warning signs are of a plumbing problem, when routine maintenance should be performed and even how many years certain fixtures/appliances should last are all worthwhile pieces of knowledge.
As is the case with many of our blog posts, we always like to provide real-world plumbing tips that any homeowner can implement. Whether that be for DIY repairs, knowing which brands are reliable or anything else, you would be surprised just how complex the average home’s plumbing system is. This week’s blog is going to be simple and straight to the point. We’re going to walk through five pieces of plumbing knowledge that every homeowner should know. No matter if you’re a first-time homeowner or someone that’s owned a home for years, this one will apply to everyone. With that all being said, let’s dive right in!
Tip #1: Know How to Handle an Emergency
While you never want to be faced with a plumbing emergency, sometimes they are unavoidable. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that every homeowner should know what to do in the event of one occurring. For the most part, there’s going to be two pieces of information you’ll want to know when it comes to reacting to a plumbing emergency. First off, having a local, reliable plumber that you can count on to provide timely and efficient plumbing services is going to be extremely helpful. To be honest, with some plumbing problems, you don’t really have a whole lot of time to waste. Secondly, you’re going to want to know where the main water shut-off valve is in your home. You’ll have shut-offs for individual fixtures, as well as a main shut-off that cuts off water running through your home. By locating the main shut-off, you’ll be able to turn everything off in case a pipe were to burst. While it may not eliminate all of the damage, you can at least limit it from becoming an ever bigger problem.
Tip #2: Know the Value of Routine Maintenance
We’re going to guess that a major goal for many homeowners, when it comes to their plumbing system, is to get the maximum years out of their individual fixtures/appliances and limit the number of times you have to call a plumber for repairs. Would you agree with that statement? Well, while a number of factors will dictate whether or not this occurs in your personal situation, routine maintenance is going to be a step in the right direction. Every fixture is going to require slightly different forms of maintenance. For instance, flushing sediment build-up in your water heater on an annual basis is an excellent way to keep your heater running efficiently. Likewise, your sump pump is another example of a plumbing component that’ll require some maintenance. You’ll want to obviously test it out from time-to-time, but also it won’t hurt to clean out the pit too, amongst a handful of other maintenance-related items. A good rule of thumb for homeowners is to make a to-do list of certain maintenance tasks that need to be completed on a quarterly and annual basis.
Tip #3: Know Which Repairs Can Be Turned Into DIY Projects
Even though most plumbing repairs are going to require the help of a licensed plumber, that isn’t necessarily true about every single job. If you don’t mind turning a minor repair into a DIY job, there are a handful that you can knock out. For example, a toilet can constantly be running simply because of a faulty flapper. This is a rather inexpensive repair that you can easily knock out in an afternoon. Maybe the water pressure seems a little low with your showerhead and most of the issue revolves around it not being cleaned for a long time. That is another task you can take care of on a weekend. However, on the flip side of this tip, you also need to understand which tasks are best left for a professional. From re-piping projects and water heater installation to sewer line repair and so on, there are plenty of plumbing jobs out there that could go south in a hurry if you don’t have a ton of plumbing experience.
Tip #4: Know the Value of Quality Brands
When it comes to the plumbing industry, there’s no shortage of brands out there. Take faucets for example. We could easily start an entire blog that just talks about the different faucets companies in the market. Delta, Moen, American Standard, Kohler, Kraus, the list goes on and on. Not to mention, these are just a handful of the industry leaders. Long story short, our next piece of plumbing knowledge that every homeowner should know is to understand the value of using quality brands. As is the case with most things, if you purchase a cheaper product, the odds are it will likely have less than stellar results. So, whether it be with the faucets, water heater, water softener or any other fixture, make sure to do your due diligence and select a well-respected brand. Plus, if you’re hiring a plumber for the project, lean on their advice. For something as common as a water heater or faucet, chances are they install these multiple times every single week and will truly know which brands are the most reliable.
Tip #5: Know What Can and Can’t Be Flushed
When most people think of plumbers, chances are drains or toilets come to mind fairly quickly. And as you could likely guess, a common service for any residential plumbing company is unclogging or cleaning those drains! To sum up this final point, it’s important for all homeowners to understand what can and can’t go down these drains, including your toilet. For a toilet, it’s about as straightforward as you can get. Human waste and toilet paper, that’s it! It’s when homeowners treat their toilet as a trash can that you start running into some trouble. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, your sink drain and garbage disposal also have their limits as well, making it important to monitor what goes down them too.
Need a Reliable Plumber in the Kansas City Area?
As we mentioned above, there truly is value in knowing a local plumbing company that you can count on. This includes both times of emergency and for your less-severe plumbing issues! If you live in or near the Kansas City area and don’t currently have a go-to plumber, we would be happy to have the opportunity to earn your trust. Our team of licensed plumbing professionals have years of experience both in the residential and commercial world. From extensive bathroom/kitchen remodels and sewer line replacements to clearing clogged drains and faucet installations, we feel confident in our ability to resolve just about any potential plumbing problem! If you’re ever interested in receiving a free quote or simply speaking with a member of our team, you’re always more than welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481!