Everyday Tips for Maintaining Your Home's Plumbing Fixtures and Pipes

High-quality plumbing fixtures and pipes that are properly installed in a home should last for many years before they need repair or replacement, but the way you maintain those fixtures and pipes will also affect their overall longevity. There is much that a homeowner can do to keep the water flowing freely through pipes, and to avoid leaks and outright ruptures in the home's plumbing systems, so note a few tips for maintaining and making simple repairs to your home's plumbing fixtures and pipes as needed.

Faucets

Never turn off faucets so tightly that you need to exert pressure to turn them back on, or assume that forcing the faucet off will keep water from leaking through the fixture. This overexertion can simply strip threads off those connectors, actually leading to water leaks.

Also, if you do notice a water leak around the faucet, you want to change the washers, or the small connectors between pieces, as soon as possible. Water leaks, even small ones through a faucet, can lead to blocked drains, as water pressure is needed to push solid materials through plumbing pipes. Using faucets correctly and making this small repair when needed can then help to avoid larger plumbing problems and repairs down the road.

Venting

You may not think roof maintenance is connected to keeping the homes plumbing pipes in good repair, but homes typically have a vent on the roof that allows air into the pipes. Air is needed to avoid creating a vacuum; if a vacuum effect is created in plumbing pipes, water and solid materials won't flow, much like how water won't move out of a straw if you cover one end with your finger. Check the home's roof vent on occasion and ensure that there is nothing blocking it, including twigs, leaves and other such debris, to keep the home's plumbing pipes flowing freely.

Cleaning

Cleaning drains can keep them from clogging, as many clogs are caused by a buildup of solid materials, oils, and other such materials. You might add a good amount of a very thick dish soap, one without added lotions, into the bathtub or sink drain, and then run hot water, as this can help wash away debris in those drains. Use a plunger on the toilet, even if it's not clogged, on occasion, to help break up debris that may be clinging to the pipes.  A plumber can also visit your home and clean out its pipes with a sound or air blast, to keep them free of anything that may cause eventual clogs.