It may seem like common sense how to use your plumbing. You turn a tap on when you need water, and turn it off when you want the water to stop. Right?
Well, yes, but there are actually some “dos” and “don’ts” of plumbing that can help reduce wear and tear on various plumbing components in your home, and help you avoid sudden plumbing repair needs. Of course, we are always here if you do need plumbing repair, so give us a call right away when you do!
In the meantime, read on to discover some of the best ways to use your plumbing system in order to avoid problems.
Run Water While Using Your Garbage Disposal
Folks often don’t realize just how a garbage disposal operates. When you turn it on, the impeller “blades” spin with such a strong centrifugal force, that it breaks up food. From there, the food goes out with the wastewater from your drain. But before it actually enters the drain, it has to get past the garbage disposal itself, and running water when you run your garbage disposal helps it along.
Another “do” here is “do be aware of what can and can’t go down your garbage disposal.” Things that expand with water like pasta and rice should stay out, as should hard food like fruit pits or meat bones.
Remove and Clean Your Aerators As Needed
If you have a problem with hard water in your home–that is, water with a high level of minerals in it like calcium, magnesium, and iron–then your sink and outdoor plumbing faucets can get clogged up with soap scum and limescale pretty easily. Of course, you can prevent this with the installation of a whole-house water softener, which will benefit you in a number of ways.
But it’s still also a good practice to remove and clean the aerators every few months or so to keep water flowing smoothly. If you’re unsure of how to do this on your own, please ask one of our plumbers!
Inspect Your Toilet for Leaks Annually
You might think that a toilet leak would be obvious, but not necessarily if it’s leaking from the tank into the bowl, or vice-versa. This can, unfortunately, waste a lot of water and leave you paying far more than you should have to when it comes to your water bills.
Do a once-over about once a year and see if you notice any cracks in the tank or the bowl. If you discover or even suspect a leak, please give us a call right away.
Turn Off Your Water Heater When Gone for an Extended Period of Time
This is specific to homeowners who have a strange tank water heater. These systems operate by using heat exchangers to warm up the water within, and if that water doesn’t get used, the heat exchangers keep coming on to keep the water at the right temperature. If you’re gone on vacation, even for just a weekend, this is a waste of energy for you.
For professional and reliable plumbing repair in St. Charles, MO, look no further than Performance Plumbing. Contact us today!