10 Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance Tips
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If you want your home’s plumbing in McHenry to last, you need to maintain it. Unfortunately, kitchen plumbing maintenance is one of the most overlooked parts of home ownership. To make sure you don’t neglect your kitchen plumbing, follow these ten maintenance tips.

1. Look Out for Leaks

Every time you go into the kitchen, be on the lookout for leaks. Although you might usually ignore leaks, doing so comes at a cost. Even a small leak can waste significant water and cause your water bill to rise. One small leak in your faucet may waste as much as eight gallons of water in a day. Other appliances, like dishwashers and garbage disposals, can also leak.

If you experience a decrease in water pressure, see a puddle on the floor, or have a high water bill, you could have a leak in your system. Call a plumber for help before you need a major repair.

2. Clear Out Drains

If you notice any slow drains in your kitchen, try to unclog them. A slow drain is a sign of a clog, and that blockage won’t go away on its own. If you ignore the blockage, more debris will accumulate and keep the water from properly draining.

There are a few simple things you can try to clear your drains. First, remove the strainer and peer inside the drain. Can you see a blockage? You might be able to use a drain snake to remove the clog. But proceed with caution because you may damage old pipes.

3. Be Careful with Your Drains

And this brings us to the next point. You should be very careful about what ends up in your drains. If you pour grease or food scraps down your kitchen drain, it’s only a matter of time before you get a clog. You should watch what goes down your drains and warn your family members to be cautious as well.

One of the best ways to prevent large particles from going down your drain is to use a strainer. However, you still need to avoid fat and grease going into your sink. Fat is liquid when it’s hot and will squeeze by your strainer.

4. Love Your Garbage Disposal

It’s just as important to know that your garbage disposal needs to be treated with care. Although the disposal has sharp blades, it can’t handle everything. Eventually, what goes into the disposal goes into your drains. Just as you watch what goes down your sink, you should watch what goes into your disposal.

Typically, garbage disposals can’t handle fibrous foods or cement-like textures, like coffee grinds. When necessary, throw those items into your garbage and save your garbage disposal the trouble. You may prevent a sewer line repair.

5. Don’t Use Drain Cleaners

When you have a slow drain, don’t use a drain cleaner to remove it. Chemical drain cleaners are harmful to your drains. They contain corrosive materials that eat away at your pipes. If you use drain cleaners too frequently, the chemicals could cause your pipes to leak and break.

So, when you have a clog, don’t grab the drain cleaner. You should try to handle the clog with a drain snake or just call a plumber. With professional assistance, you can eliminate your blockage and save your pipes from certain trouble. The integrity of your plumbing is on the line.

6. Use Insulation

In the winter, your kitchen plumbing could be in danger. As the temperature drops below freezing, your plumbing could get too cold. If you don’t properly insulate your pipes, you could end up with frozen pipes. The pressure of the freezing water could result in a burst pipe, and that is a costly repair.

As a way to prevent frozen pipes, you can use insulation. If your kitchen plumbing has exposure to outside elements, you should wrap the pipes with insulation. If the temperature gets below freezing, you don’t need to worry about your plumbing. Although you can attempt to insulate your pipe on your own, you may prefer to work with a plumber.

7. Examine Your Water Pressure

Just as you look for leaks in your kitchen, you should keep an eye on your water pressure. It should always be around 40 to 50 psi. If your water pressure is too high, your pipes may experience damage. The joints could weaken, or you might develop a leak.

Low water pressure is also an issue. While low pressure won’t damage your pipes, it could keep your appliances from working well, or it might keep you from enjoying your showers.

8. Inspect Exposed Pipes

You don’t need to be a plumber to notice corrosion on an exposed pipe. If any of your kitchen plumbing is easy to see, look at it and make a note of any rust. Once your pipes begin to rust, the process will continue until they completely break. If you notice this or anything else, call a plumber.

9. Know How to Turn Off the Water

In case of a kitchen plumbing emergency, you need to know how to turn off your water. The main line should be outside your home, while individual shut-offs might be on your sinks.

10. Use a Professional for Kitchen Plumbing Maintenance

Every year, have a plumber come and inspect your kitchen plumbing. This is the best way to keep your plumbing in working order.

FAQ: How do I maintain my plumbing system?

There’s one easy way to maintain your plumbing system and to reduce the need for plumbing repair in McHenry – work with an experienced professional. The best kitchen plumbing tips require you to work with a plumber who can keep your pipes in good shape.

What plumbing is needed for a kitchen?

If you’re considering plumbing installation in McHenry, there are a few things you should know. You need to have plumbing for the sink, dishwasher, and any other appliances. One of our plumbing tips for new homeowners is to only work with a reputable professional for plumbing installations or kitchen plumbing maintenance. Call us at Combat and find out how we can help.

2022-03-31T09:40:53+00:00

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