Ten Plumbing Tips Everyone Needs to Know

#2 - Toss Your Grease One of the worst things you can do for your plumbing system is to pour grease down the drain. While most times this seems like the easiest option, throwing grease out will save you a significant amount of money in the end. Grease is soft and tacky, which makes it extremely difficult to remove from the pipes.

#3 - Do Not Use Caustic Drain Cleaners If you are experiencing a mild clog, do not use caustic cleaners. Instead, use a plunger or a combination of vinegar and lemon. These common household items create the same effect without the risk.

#4 - Buy a Strainer Large food debris can cause clogs within your home's plumbing system. Most of the time, this excess food can be stopped with a simple strainer that sits over your sink's drain.

#5 - Locate Your Main Water Valve Major plumbing repairs should only be done by professionals. However, it is important to know where your main valve is located. This way, if you experience a plumbing emergency like a busted pipe, you can shut the water off until a plumber arrives. Doing this simple task will prevent you from having serious water damage. #6 - Ensure that Your Main Drain is Visible You should locate your main drain and make sure that it is easily viewable to lawn care personnel or anyone else doing work at your home. Accidentally running over this pipe will cause damage, resulting in messy sewage backup.

#7 - Avoid Frozen Pipes While extremely low temperatures are not common in the DFW area, we still get our fair share of colder nights and the occasional freeze. Make sure that you are always prepared by keeping your home warm. This will not only keep you warm, but also help prevent your pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes can cause thousands of dollars in damages.

#8 - Check for Leaks You should always be on the lookout for leaks. Things to keep an eye out for include unexplained puddles around your tub, toilet, or underneath your sink. These are often a sign of a serious problem. You should always contact a professional as soon as a leak is spotted to prevent further damage.

#9 - Install Separate Shut Off Valves If you have the option, you should hire a professional to install separate water shut off valves for various fixtures or rooms. This way, if you experience a leak in a bathroom, you can use this valve to cut off waterflow in that specific area. This prevents you from having to shut off water to the entire home.

#10 - Clean Bathroom Drains The most crucial thing to do in order to prevent drain clogs is to regularly clear out your shower and bathtub drains. Hair and other debris accumulates in these locations and will eventually show up in your pipes.

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