Keeping your kitchen and bathroom fully functional at all times is important because of the huge role it plays in your daily life. Because of constant use, however, it becomes a lot more prone to damage and normal wear and tear.
You don’t have to risk having a pipe burst first before you do something about the problem, though. As a homeowner, you should be proactive about maintaining the different parts and utilities of the house.
Here is an essential checklist of things you need for proper plumbing maintenance in your kitchen and bathroom.
Fixtures
Faucets and showerheads are common touchpoints. Every turn of the knob, every adjustment to the angle of the handle or body, could result in eventual damage. It could also affect the quality of the water passing through it if it is not cleaned.
Check if there are any leaks, either because the valve is no longer able to shut completely or cracks in the hardware. The sooner you find them, the sooner you can remedy them. Check for rust as well, as this can also lead to leaks later on.
You also need to check for buildups, such as molds, algae, or calcium. The more regularly you go about this task, the less worry you’ll need about it.
Water Flow
Another way to ensure that your plumbing is in good condition is to check the water flow. If the water flow does not seem to be as strong as it should be, it could either be that there is a clog in the pipes somewhere or the water pressure isn’t strong enough.
On the other hand, if the water isn’t draining as fast, or at what you would consider a reasonable speed, there may be also debris blocking the flow, which you’ll have to clear out.
Toilet Bowl Tank
The toilet’s tank bowl is supposed to fill up after flushing automatically and then stop as soon as it is complete. If you hear or see your bowl continuously flushing down water, then there might be an issue with the water plug in the tank. Get this fixed at the soonest possible instance to avoid further unnecessary water loss.
If it continues to run water, and you can’t see where the issue could be, it’s best to refer it to a professional plumber.
Kitchen Sink
Meanwhile, your kitchen sink is also just as at risk to water leaks, drained clogs, and burst pipes. Make sure to regularly check not only the sink and faucets but also the pipe under the sink.
For those with garbage disposal units installed, you also need to check that it is grinding down the food waste correctly and getting flushed down the pipe. Otherwise, a build-up would lead to a clog in your sink.
When to Get Professional Help
The tips above are simple enough to carry out regularly. However, there may be instances when the issue is more complicated than you know how to deal with. For such occasions, you should seek the help of professional plumbers.
Although you might think that fixing it yourself will be better because it’s cheaper, you could be setting yourself up for bigger expenses down the road. All too often, people who insist on fixing their plumbing DIY end up making the problem worse simply because they do not know how to handle it in the first place.
Calling a professional plumber ensures that the problem will be resolved right the first time, so you don’t have to worry about doing fixes repeatedly. Not only that, but they can anticipate future issues, which you can then work to address immediately for prevention.
