Keeping your household plumbing system healthy and efficient is an important aspect of being a homeowner. For one thing, having to repair or replace your pipes, fixtures, and appliances can be very expensive, especially if it’s something you’re dealing with frequently. Plus, when a plumbing issue pops up, it can be very detrimental to the comfort and lifestyle of you and your family.
For example, if there’s a problem with your water heater or pipes, you may not be able to take a hot shower to warm up during the chilly Grand Forks, ND winter. You may also be unable to effectively clean your clothes, wash dishes, or complete certain household chores. However, if you become more informed about your plumbing system and how to properly care for it, you can save yourself quite a bit of money, discomfort, and frustration.
1. Know Where Your Main Water Valve Is Located
In the event of a plumbing emergency, it will be extremely important that you know where to find your home’s main water valve. If you’re unfortunate enough to experience a burst pipe or any kind of major water leak or flooding, it can quickly turn into a disastrous situation.
However, if you know where your main water valve is, you can completely shut off the water to prevent the issue from getting out of hand. Then, you can contact Total Care Plumbing to enlist our emergency plumbing services. A few of the most common places where your main water valve may be located are in the basement, in the crawl space, near the water heater, and under the kitchen sink.
2. Know the Signs of a Hard Water Problem
Many households across the United States have hard water issues without the homeowner even realizing it. When water contains ions of calcium and magnesium, it’s referred to as hard water, and hard water can have many negative effects on a household. For one thing, those mineral ions can cause the water to leave behind a nasty resin called scale in your pipes and appliances. That can lead to significant leaks, damaged pipes, and worsened appliance health and efficiency.
Hard water can also be detrimental to your skin, hair, and clothing. However, if you know how to recognize the signs of a hard water issue, you can choose to invest in a water-softening system, which will remove those hazardous minerals before they can cause problems.
If you’re noticing any of these red flags in your home, you may have a hard water issue:
- Water tastes strange
- Lots of soap scum in your shower
- Skin feels dry and itchy after showering
- Color fading on clothes
- Poor water pressure
3. Know What Shouldn’t Go Down the Drain
Some objects and substances should never go down the drains in your home if you want to keep your plumbing system healthy. If you know what is and isn’t acceptable to dispose of using the drain, you can avoid clogged pipes or a damaged garbage disposal. A few examples of things that you should find other ways to get rid of include grease, cooking oil, eggshells, paper products, flour, bones, and cleaning products.
Trust Your Local Plumbing Professionals
The more you understand about your household plumbing system, the better equipped you’ll be to take amazing care of it. Learning these few important things is a great start, but there’s always more to know. If you need any kind of professional plumbing services or have any plumbing-related questions, don’t hesitate to contact Total Care Plumbing. Our friendly team will answer your questions and get you all set up with an appointment!
