Plumbers

5 Secrets the Best Plumbers Know

Plumbing is universal; everyone uses plumbing every day, and everyone will have to deal with some plumbing problem sometime in their life. Here are five secrets the best plumbers in Sacramento know that will help you take good care of your plumbing:

Pipes Need to Be Protected.

One surefire way to prevent water pipes from leaking is to protect them from freezing. Cold temperatures will freeze the water in unprotected pipes, causing you to lose water pressure and possibly crack the pipes. Indoor pipes can be wrapped in a layer of insulation to prevent freezing. Outdoor faucets can winterize by removing attached hoses and covering them with insulated caps.

Water Heaters Need TLC.

It’s easy to neglect a water heater, but the following maintenance tips will keep your water toasty and your energy bills low:

Plumbers

  • Drain the heater regularly to remove sediment build-up from the bottom.
  • Insulate pipes going into the water heater to prevent costly heat loss.
  • Test the pressure relief valve periodically.
  • Replace water heaters older than 10 years; these older models can’t provide the efficiency you’re looking for.

Garbage Disposals Aren’t for Everything.

Some stuff doesn’t belong in a garbage disposal. It’s not only the disposal that’s the problem; it’s also the pipes that come after the removal. Grease and items like coffee grounds, fruit pits, eggshells, potato peels, and other starchy or tough things are hardened for the disposal to handle and cause clogs in the pipes. These clogs can be as hard as rocks and difficult to remove. Be selective and careful about what you feed your disposal and send down the kitchen drain.

Flushable Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Flushable.

Lots of products are labeled flushable, but plumbers want you to know that the only things that are flushable are toilet paper and bodily waste. If it’s not one of those two things, don’t flush it, regardless of what the label says.

Small Drips and Leaks Waste a Lot of Water.

A single dripping faucet can use 3,000 gallons of water in a year. That’s a lot of water and a lot of money down the drain. Don’t ever procrastinate plumbing repairs or maintenance. There’s no such thing as a small water problem.

Don’t Ignore Plumbing Problems

Taking care of your plumbing is part of taking care of your home. Following these tips from the best plumbers will help you avoid some of the most common plumbing issues.