There can be nothing more inconvenient than encountering an alarming plumbing emergency in the middle of your busy day. This is why you, as the homeowner or landlord, need to continuously take precautions of making sure everything runs smoothly in terms of a property’s pipes.
Along with backflow testing Melbourne property owners should see to clearing clogs, doing regular checks and making sure no water runs unattended. By doing these, you can avoid many a stressful emergency! Also, you will conveniently lower your energy bills and help to conserve water, all while keeping your water bill as low as possible too.
Here’s what to add to your priority list.
Do Frequent Inspections
Not only should you do inspections and checks regularly, but also consistently. Stay aware of how your plumbing system operates.
You should remember to check your faucets and toilets in particular. A dripping faucet can be exasperating on the ear and heavy on the water bill, so be sure to avoid that pain by tightening it properly.
You can also identify pipe leakages underneath the sink in the kitchen or bathroom by observing if there is excessive wetness in the area. Likewise, with toilets, you can check for moisture behind the toilets after every flush.
Overcoming these issues in advance will obviously avoid exorbitant repair costs down the line, but it can also help you avoid floor or ceiling damage.
Protect Your Drainage System
Firstly, you should get a drain screen, which acts as a filter. It consists of a type of mesh that gets installed into your pipes to prevent any larger debris and other muck from blocking your pipes.
Secondly, install a drain guard at the bottom of your shower or bath to prevent excess and shaved hair from clogging up your pipes.
Any residential or commercial plumber Melbourne based would highly recommend you to check what goes down your drains, including razor clippings, lotion, hard food substances like vegetable stems or peelings and dental floss. Staying attentive will help you regulate your drainage functionality, by cleaning it properly when you realise you’re at risk of a blockage.
Clear Clogs Yourself
Once all your inspections or checks have been conducted, you can clear clogs yourself, but only if you detect the blockages early enough! Before calling a plumber you can try and get the job done by pouring boiling water down the pipe to gauge the severity of the blockage.
If the sink drains slowly and starts bubbling then there is possibly a serious clog that needs more thorough attention. You can use a plunger to plunge out unwanted muck or you can use a flexible drain snake to gradually pull clogs out!
Call the experts if you don’t have any success in clearing it out.
Watch What You Pour Down the Sink
As mentioned already, you could avoid unnecessary blockages – and expenses – by watching what you put down the sink. Foods and food particles you should avoid placing down your sink include:
- Expanding food such as rice or pasta
- Coffee granules
- Flour
- Egg shells
- Grease such as fats and oils
- Tough-skinned fruits and vegetables
Sinks should not act as rubbish bins, and while these items may not instantly block your pipes, they might cause damage to them in the long-run. At the most, use the sink to dispose of what gets washed off plates!
Only Flush Toilet Paper
Like your sink, your toilet must not be treated like a rubbish bin. Toilet paper and bodily waste are all that should be flushed. Many products – such as cat litter, paper towels or sanitary products – are perceived to be flushable, but they’re not. They don’t easily dissolve or break down and they can therefore easily clog up your pipes.
Check the Toilet Tank
A few tips for the toilet:
- Your toilet flapper chain in your toilet tank should be relaxed. If it’s too tight, loosen it or ask an expert.
- If you hear water running from your tank, then the flapper is worn out. You can easily replace it for a low price.
- Leaking toilets are capable of wasting thousands of litres a year so you may need to replace the flush valve if excess water is being used.
- You can also examine the water level by gauging the overflow tube. If it’s higher than a couple of centimetres below the stipulation, then you’re wasting water.
[Conclusion]
Most – if not all – of these plumbing issues are completely avoidable. It is up to your awareness and diligence around the house whether a big plumbing issue will pop up in the future.