The Benefits of Regular Plumbing Maintenance

Your home’s plumbing system is an intricate network of pipes, drains, valves, and appliances that must all work together to provide clean water and remove waste.

While it’s easy to take this system for granted, neglecting it can lead to many problems, from minor inconveniences to major disasters.

By implementing a simple preventative plumbing maintenance routine, you will not only keep your system in tip-top shape, but you will also extend the life of your equipment and see a noticeable difference in energy costs and water quality. Here are a few simple ways to jump-start your plumbing maintenance routine.

Flush Your Water Heater

Over time, minerals like calcium and magnesium can settle at the bottom of your water heater tank. While these minerals are not inherently harmful to humans, they can:

• Reduce the efficiency of your water heater, making it work harder to heat water
• Reduce heating capacity, leading to longer heating times and higher energy costs
• Increase the likelihood of tank corrosion
• Impact water quality, causing discoloration and odd tastes and smells

To mitigate these common issues and improve water quality, we recommend taking preventative plumbing measures, such as having your water flushed and serviced every six months.

Keep Your Drains Healthy

Clogged and damaged drains strain your plumbing system, often causing leaks, cracks, and backups. To keep your drains flowing smoothly:

• Use strainers in sinks, showers, and tubs
• Allow grease and oils to harden, then dispose of them in the trash rather than pouring them down the drain
• Do not flush wipes (even the “flushable” kind), floss, and paper towels
• Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar into drains, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then rinse with hot water. Do this every week to clean and prevent unwanted odors

Check For Leaks

The average leaky faucet produces around 10 drips every minute, wasting about one gallon of water daily. Larger leaks (120 drips per minute) waste as many as 11 gallons daily, costing around $6 dollars every month.

While these costs may seem insignificant, the stakes become much higher with leaky toilets. A running toilet wastes around eight gallons of water (200 gallons) every hour. Over a month, that could turn into 6,000 gallons of water, costing you as much as $75.

Cracked or leaky pipes can be even more costly. Even a small, undetected leak can escalate into expensive issues like water damage and mold growth.

The solution? Regularly inspect your shower heads, faucets, and basement pipes. If you see a sudden spike in your bill and suspect a hidden leak, contact us immediately for a leak detection service. We are here to help!

Schedule an Annual Inspection With a Professional

In addition to educating your household about preventative plumbing maintenance, we encourage you to schedule an annual inspection with one of our friendly professionals.

We can identify hidden leaks and system inefficiencies, improve water quality, and help you reduce energy costs. The upfront costs are negligible compared to the potential savings and peace of mind you’ll gain from avoiding costly repairs and big emergencies down the line. Don’t let a minor issue turn into a headache!

Smarter Plumbing Solutions Begin With Stephens

With nearly 40 years of plumbing experience, our family-owned business is committed to keeping your household safe, comfortable, and cost-efficient. Whether you need maintenance, repair, or replacement or simply wish to prevent costly fixes in the future, Stephens Plumbing is here to help. Contact us today!