Plumbing is the lifeline of your home’s waterworks. The pipes and drains remain hidden from sight but are constantly carrying the weight of waste disposal and the pressure of water supply.

It’s unfortunate how most of us ignore plumbing maintenance until there is a system failure.

A plumbing system failure can be potentially disastrous, ruining your home furnishings and valuables. Regular maintenance by a professional plumber from Ashburton can help you assess and judge any plumbing issues at an early stage, thereby preventing any major loss or expense.

Don’t worry we are not suggesting that you should subscribe to a weekly plumbing service agent. We have a simple outlay of some Dos and Don’ts.

Bear these in mind, and your home’s plumbing will remain at prime performance levels.

Always use drain covers

The humble drain cover for sinks and bathrooms can save your drains from major clogging disasters. The drain covers catch unwanted materials like food leftovers and hair.

This means smooth drainage and no build-up of debris in the drains. The good quality silicone drains fix at their position with suction grip, and are easy to remove, clean and reinstall.

Never use cleaning chemicals

A chemical drain cleaner may be a temporary quick fix but in essence, it’s a recipe for disaster. The chemicals can never fully clean-up a clog, and can only postpone the inevitable.

In fact, the chemicals can get stuck to the pipes and eventually corrode them. It is advisable to resist the temptation to empty the chemicals down the drain for the long-term health of your home’s plumbing.

Learn to use a plunger

Instead of using a chemical cleaner, you should get a good quality plunger. The action of the plunger can unclog drains in a jiffy. If you run the plunger under hot water before using it, it will cover the drainage hole better and give fast results. You should use the plunger when you notice the first signs of clogging.

If the clogging is so severe that no amount of plunging is yielding any results, you should seek the help of a professional. There are companies offering zero-contact plumbing services especially keeping in view the COVID situation.

Pay attention to the garbage disposal

Garbage disposal has upgraded the way we handle kitchen waste management. But most often it ends up being a kitchen accessory that is heavily exploited and abused. It is not a trash can! There is some waste that should absolutely never go down the garbage disposal.

This includes starchy foods, oils and fats, and definitely no bones. Also, you should always run some cold water until the garbage has completely passed through the blades. This will ensure that the blades remain smooth and sharp.

Watch out for the frost

Winters are a special season for plumbing havocs. When water freezes in your drains, it expands. This could lead to leakages or even pipe bursts. There are a few ways in which you could ward-off the danger.

First of all, you must ensure that the pipes and plumbing network is insulated or covered. All outdoor hoses should be disconnected from the faucets and the valves should be turned off. Drain off all pipes and hoses that aren’t going to be in use.

Don’t ignore leakage

Tiny leaks can turn into a major leakage in a very short time. Sometimes the leak may lay hidden behind furniture or under the sink, and lead to mold growth and rotting. In the worst case, a leak may lead to pipe bursts and cause major water damage due to flooding.

So take our advice. If you notice an active leak, even a very small one, you should take immediate steps to seal and repair.