When you ask a homeowner about their plumbing, they would probably talk about their toilets or their drains. Some homeowners aren’t really aware of how their plumbing works, especially how to take better care of it. This is why we wrote this article. We hope every homeowner decides to go the extra mile in taking care of their plumbing to avoid water damage and a costly repair. In this article, we’ll share some tips straight from a plumber about your plumbing systems including tips on how to maintain the efficiency of your water heater. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We are always available to help.

Tips to Better Avoid Water Damage

One of the most important things you can do for your plumbing to avoid costly emergency repairs is to ensure they are in excellent shape. How do you do this? You can create a checklist of plumbing appliances and fixtures to check weekly or monthly. This should help you better monitor how your plumbing is doing. And if you suspect something may be wrong with your plumbing pipes because you hear strange noises or you see water spots in the ceilings or in the walls, contact a plumber as there is likely a leak in your plumbing system. Getting professional leak detection should be able to help a plumber locate the leak and resolve it for you.

Below are other tips to help you maximize the efficiency of your plumbing system including the water heater.

1. Drain the Water Heater Once a Year

Create a schedule on when you plan to drain the water heater tank to get rid of the sediment buildup that will significantly affect the efficiency of your water heater. You may need to schedule this twice a year especially when there’s hard water in your plumbing or the water pressure is low.

Draining the water heater tank doesn’t just improve the unit’s efficiency, this can also avoid costly plumbing leaks. Sediment that’s not removed can also damage the tank eventually and cause it to break or leak. When this happens, you’ll have no choice but to completely replace your water heater. The only way to avoid a costly repair is by knowing how to take better care of your unit.

Additionally, it’s also important to call a plumber to professionally inspect your water heater. That’s right, you also need a professional to ensure the water heater’s heating element is still working and your water is clean. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Our plumbing experts can service almost all types of water heaters including tank-type and tankless water heaters.

We can also help you install your new unit if you’re planning to get a new one. Our team will usually advise homeowners to get a new water heater if their unit is no longer efficient. Should you intend to get a replacement we recommend going for the tankless water heaters as it’s more energy-efficient. You can also avoid a costly leak with a tankless water heater as there’s no need to worry about a water heater tank.

2. Learn How to Take Better Care of Your Pipes

The most important plumber tips to know is in learning how to take better care of your pipes. But first, you need to get a plumbing inspection especially when you live in an older home as you likely may still have galvanized pipes installed. Call a plumber so he can replace your old pipes with modern piping such as copper or PVC.

If you have low water pressure or high water pressure, call a plumber to correct this problem. Low water pressure usually indicates a leak while high water pressure is bad news for your plumbing pipes. Not sure if you have healthy water pressure levels? Get a water pressure gauge to check your home’s water pressure levels and the result must fall between the normal range of 40-60 PSI. A water pressure regulator should address the high water pressure problem and you may need a licensed plumber to install this fixture.

Next is to protect your pipes at all times. Do you live in areas that get bad winters? Make sure you insulate the pipes so that they don’t freeze and you won’t have to face a costly plumbing emergency. Take care of your drains because clogged pipes can also lead to costly water damage. Most importantly, avoid using chemical-based drain cleaners like the plague for they can only do a lot of damage to your pipes especially when you have older pipes.

3. Install Safety Devices in Your Home

How many shut-off valves do you have at home? If you only have one, we recommend installing several of these and placing them near your water heater, dishwasher or garbage disposal. Also, don’t forget to install leak detection devices to get alerts or notifications when there’s a possible leak in your plumbing. They will be very helpful especially when you’ll be away from home. Also, make sure you have the contact of a trusted plumbing company whom you can call at any time of the day in case you need emergency plumbing services. And that’s what we’re here for. You can call us even in the wee hours and we will be there to help you.

Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott Right Away

Do you need any plumbing repair or installation work? We have a plumber who can assist you as soon as possible. And take note our plumbing experts always give their best at every appointment to ensure all customers are happy with our services. That’s right, you can expect exceptional customer service from us.

If you need a plumbing expert, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Prescott today for an appointment.

See our previous blog on this topic here.

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