If you have recently purchased a home, whether new construction or an older home, here are some tips for making sure you are prepared to maintain the plumbing in your home.
Know where your main shut-off valves are located for your water main and gas main. This is very important in the event of an emergency or gas leak.
Know where your sewer cleanouts are inside the house and outside the house.
In the fall, winterize your hose bibs (outside spigots), outdoor sinks, laundry sinks in garages, and other fixtures located in unconditioned areas, before winter approaches to avoid freezing pipes.
Keep all sump pump pits free of debris. Check pits frequently to make sure nothing has fallen in that will clog up your sump pump and that the float is not hung up.
If you have a sewer ejector system for lower-level plumbing, they are subject to failure if certain potential clogging products are being flushed into the system (paper towels, rags, feminine products, grease, large food particles, etc).
If you are new to a septic system, they need to be pumped out a minimum of once every 2 years, but it also depends on the size of your family. Know where the pump out location is, and how to access it.
If you have a sprinkler system, the check valves are recommended to be serviced/replaced every 5 years per the manufacturer.
If you go out of town or away, for a period of time, it is a good idea to shut off the water to the house.
Using bleach tablets that go in the tank part of your toilet can cause the breakdown of the rubber flapper in your tank, causing your toilet to run constantly and leak out.
Faucet aerators may need to be cleaned out if you notice a water flow pressure drop on individual faucets in the bathroom or kitchen.
Water heaters should be flushed after the first year to determine the sediment build-up in the tank, as well as to keep it running at optimum energy efficiency.
Reach out if you are concerned and would like to schedule a service call to address any of the above tips.
