It should almost go without saying that your pipes are the most essential part of your plumbing system. If veins power your body by pumping blood to your vital organs, your pipes power your plumbing system by pumping water to your appliances and fixtures, as well as removing harmful waste. Yet too often, homeowners neglect simple steps they can take to ensure their pipes remain in peak shape for as long as possible.
As a full-service plumbing company, Smith’s Plumbing Services provides all the options you need when it comes to your home’s piping. From pipe repairs and replacements to complete re-piping service, we are the company you call to deal with leaks, clogs, and more. Yet we also want to make sure you avoid piping problems as much as possible. Keep reading for our top five tips to help your pipes last longer, and remember that you can call our skilled plumbers anytime for quality service at a fair price.
Top 5 Things You Can Do to Increase the Lifespan of Your Pipes:
- Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners: If you get a clog in your pipes, you would think the best way to get rid of it would just be to use a liquid drain cleaner, right? Sadly, this is not the case. Most store-bought drain cleaners contain nasty chemicals that eat away at your pipes over time. And in addition to being corrosive to your plumbing system, chemical drain cleaners are usually ineffective, and often end up just sitting on top of an obstruction, practically waiting for a back-up to occur. To get rid of clogs on your own, try purchasing/making a snaking device instead, or use a DIY drain cleaner, made from baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and water. And of course, if the clog is severe enough, just call our pros at Smith’s Plumbing Services to take care of it for you.
- Have Your Drains Cleaned Regularly: Going off the point above, it is a good idea to call a plumber for annual drain cleaning, even if you are not dealing with clogs. While homemade drain cleaning options may help your pipes function better in the short term, hiring our seasoned plumbers for professional drain cleaning is one of the best ways to preserve the health of your pipes over time. Our experts can identify and get rid of obstructions deep in your pipes, and help clean the walls of your lines so they are as good as new and water can flow through them completely freely once again.
- Deal With Leaks ASAP: Every homeowner has dealt with a plumbing leak at one point or another. It’s how you react to that leak that’s important. As soon as you hear that drip, drip, dripping noise, make sure to investigate where it’s coming from. Even a small pipe leak can end up jacking up your water bill and causing major damage if not fixed in time, and on top of this, leaky pipes simply make for a less efficient plumbing system overall.
- Watch Your Water Pressure: Your home’s water pressure should ideally be somewhere between 40 and 80 PSI (pounds per square inch.) Water pressure that is too low is not pleasant for anyone, and often indicates that there is mineral buildup, corrosion, or leaks somewhere in your pipes. However, PSI that is over 85 is also a problem, as it can wear down your pipes faster, and even lead to bursting, if the amount of pressure rises suddenly. You should be able to check your PSI level on your water meter, so you always know whether your pipes are at risk.
- Watch What You Put Down Your Drains & Toilet: We’ve already talked about the dangers of chemical drain cleaners above, but sadly, this is far from the only cause of pipe problems we see on a regular basis. Oftentimes, homeowners will treat their plumbing system almost like a second garbage can. In the bathroom, the ONLY thing you should be flushing down your toilet is toilet paper—not paper towels, not tampons or pads, and not even so-called “flushable” wipes. Unlike toilet paper, none of these paper products are designed to break apart in water, and can therefore lead to clogs in your piping. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, make sure to throw away grease/oil, bones, seeds, fruit skins/rinds, starches, and fibrous foods rather than shoving them down the garbage disposal. Again, garbage disposals and garbage cans are not the same thing, and in fact, you should only be using the former to get rid of minimal food waste. If you want to help your pipes last longer, follow this advice, and remember to call Smith’s Plumbing Services for all your kitchen and bathroom plumbing needs.
Our licensed plumbing team is available 24/7 at (901) 290-1110, or you can send us a message online.