How You Can Prevent Plumbing Leaks, Clogs and Flooding

You expect your home’s plumbing to operate efficiently, but potential problems can hide everywhere. Fortunately, you can prevent clogs, leaks and even flooding with a little routine care. Here’s how to keep your plumbing in check and your stress in check.

1. Be Aware of What’s Going in the Drains

Your kitchen sink may be fitted with a garbage disposal, but several things still belong in the trash can or compost heap dumped into the drain, including:

  • Cooking grease
  • Stringy foods like corn husks and stalks of celery
  • Old food like steamed rice or coffee grounds
  • Solid objects like gristle and bones
  • Anything that isn’t edible. Silverware and other small items can fall into the disposal and damage something when you turn it on.

2. Understand What Shouldn’t Be Flushed

Toilets are designed to safely remove human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

  • Wet wipes
  • Paper towels
  • Soft cotton
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Diapers
  • Floss
  • Old medication

3. Employ Mesh Strainers

A simple way to avoid a clog is to place sink strainers over your laundry, kitchen and bathroom drains. They collect hair, pieces of soap, old toothpaste and other debris as water runs down the drain. Stick to a regular schedule when you clean these strainers to keep your drains working properly.

4. Locate the Main Water Shutoff Valve

Being familiar with your plumbing system means knowing the location of your main water shutoff valve. This valve regulates water coming into your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to turn off this valve before leaving town for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home buried underground.

5. Get a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump can really help prevent floods, particularly in climates prone to lots of rain. This device pumps out water that collects in its sump basin, usually found in the basement, and expels it away from the house. For homes that already have a sump pump, test it regularly by dumping some water into the pit. If the pump activates and the pit drains, it’s working fine. If it doesn’t seem to be working properly, you have time to call a professional to service the pump before another big thunderstorm rolls through.

6. Install Flood Flood Alarms

Similar to how smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms can help avoid water damage. These wired or battery-operated devices detect water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, sounding an alarm to inform you. For enhanced protection, install smart flood alarms into your home security system. This sends a notification on your phone if water has been detected, helping to resolve leaking pipes before they cause significant damage.

7. Add a Backflow Valve

Another helpful plumbing tip is to put in a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to prevent sewage from flowing backward into their homes during heavy rainfall. Local expert plumbers can install this strong layer of protection against sewage backflow.

Find and Stop Leaking

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home plumbing system is hidden, so leaks often go unnoticed until they are capable of significant water damage. Regularly checking for leaks can help you catch issues early. Here’s what to do:

  • Check under the sink for signs of damp spots, wood decay or mold growth.
  • Find tiny leaks in any of your toilets by putting in a few drops of coloring to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, you’ve got a leak.
  • Inspect around and behind your appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaks.
  • Schedule a water meter test.
    • To get started, close off all water in your home via the water main.
    • Then, walk outside to read the water meter. Check it again in two hours, and make sure not to use any water in the meantime.
    • If the reading changes, there is a leak somewhere.

Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing

In colder climates, doing your part to protect vulnerable pipes is vital if you want to avoid freezing and bursting. Here is what you can do:

  • Wrap the pipes in insulation in unheated areas like the basement, garage or attic with insulating foam or heating tape.
  • Remove garden hoses from their spigots during the winter to keep ice from forming inside the pipes.
  • Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

Work with a Reliable Plumber

While you can take many preventive steps yourself to stop clogs, leaks and flood damage, it’s never a bad idea to have Expert local plumbers to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where comes in. We are a network of plumbers supporting U.S. homeowners from coast to coast with service backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your level of service up to a year later, we will do everything we can to make it right. This commitment shows how we ensure a complete sense of comfort in your life. For some of the best plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today

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