PLUMBING SYSTEMS

An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home's plumbing in top working order - and you'll avoid costly repairs!  To help prevent annoying and expensive plumbing disasters consider joining  The Diamond Club.

Faucets and Sinks

• Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day!  Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. Always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water. 
• Remove and clean your faucet aerators every few months to ensure an even flow of water.
• Make sure that the overflow hole on your bath tub is clear and that the gasket seal is intact to prevent costly damage to the floor beneath.

Water Heater

• Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, or turn off the gas and read your owner's manual.
• At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Over time sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance, and draining a gallon or so helps remove the sediment.  It is important to have a brass drain valve before you attempt to do this yourself.  A plastic one can break and you could have a nasty mess on your hand if it does.
• You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips.  If it's mostly yellow, or if it's sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation.  Contact a professional to check it out.
• At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.

Toilets
 

Clogs

• To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.
• Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink.  Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
• Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drain or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them.  If you can't snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.
• We recommend the use of Bio Smart on a monthly basis to maintain slow drains. Bio Smart   is specially formulated to go to work instantly and will not harm your pipes or the environment.

Garbage Disposal

• You can extend the life of your garbage disposal by:
• Using plenty of cold water when running it
• Making sure you avoid overloading it
• Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
• Never using a caustic drain opener
• Sharpen the blades by occasionally grinding ice cubes in it. (not glass!)