7 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Plumbing System

Our plumbing system endures a lot throughout the year, be it wear and tear from typical use, temperature changes, or overuse during the holiday season. Despite all this, it only asks for regular maintenance, which homeowners often skip. With the new year approaching, people come up with New Year’s resolutions to improve their lives. 

It could be a resolution to eat healthy, spend more time with family, and be mindful of expenses, but taking better care of the plumbing system is never on the list. So, this time, make sure to add taking better care of the plumbing system as one of your New Year’s resolutions. Here are some areas you can focus on:

1. Not ignoring minor problems

At some point in life, everyone experiences some kind of plumbing issue. It can be a blockage or pressure issue, physical damage to the plumbing, or malfunction. In these cases, we recommend calling our professional plumbers in Toronto so they can assess the situation and proceed accordingly. What we don’t recommend is ignoring minor issues. 

There could be a minor leak somewhere that isn’t big enough to cause concern, a noise coming from the pipes, a lower or higher water level in the toilet, and several other such issues. Since they seem insignificant at the time, people often ignore these issues until they become more significant problems later. 

To avoid these situations, address the issue whenever you notice it, no matter how small. At this point, the problem may not be as expensive to solve as when it turns into something significant. 

2. Take care of the pipes

Aside from being mindful of what you throw down the drain, you can take another step to prevent pipe damage. Insulating your pipes, especially pipes located outside the home, is crucial to winter preparation. If you live in a region that experiences harsh winters, insulating your pipes is necessary. It prevents the pipes from freezing and bursting, which can be costly. Call a professional plumber in Toronto to inspect the piping in your home and insulate them wherever needed.

3. Be mindful of wasting water

Most people aren’t aware of how much water they waste during the year, which you could conserve otherwise. Simple things like turning off the tap when brushing, turning off the shower when applying soap/shampoo, or saving water while washing dishes can save thousands of gallons per household every year. 

For the coming year, try to be more mindful about wasting water and spread these habits to other family members.  

4. Not to flush anything other than toilet paper

Toilet drains seem like endless voids that can just suck up everything, but that is not the case. It is recommended not to flush anything down the toilet other than toilet paper, as they can end up clogging the pipe in the long run. 

Keep flushable wipes out of the toilet drain since they can collect in some parts of the pipe and build a blockage over time. It is best to avoid flushing wipes, tissue paper, hair, or any other waste/debris to prevent plumbing issues such as overflow, low pressure, smells, and more. 

5. Maintain the water heater

Homeowners often neglect their home water heater as it is usually out of sight and, unfortunately, out of mind. It seems to be working behind the scenes, and you get hot water whenever you need it, but there could be debris buildup or some leak that’s affecting the efficiency of the water heater and thus burdening your electrical bill. 

The water heater is a piece of equipment you should regularly check—generally once every year—to ensure no gasses are leaking and no sediment buildup is impacting the heater’s efficiency.

For the GTA, you should call a plumber in Toronto once every year to inspect the plumbing connected to the water heater and the heater itself.

6. Keep drains clear of unwanted waste

Whether it is a kitchen drain or a bathroom drain, there is a possibility of something that doesn’t belong there being flushed down the drain. Bathroom drains easily clog with soap, shampoo, hair, oils, and other shower products. These combine to form clumps and create a blockage in the pipe. A plunger or a drain auger can remove the blockage or, in some cases, drain cleaning liquid. 

Regarding kitchen drains, cooking grease is the most problematic item. While in liquid form when hot, it appears safe enough to be poured down the drain, but as it cools down, the grease solidifies in the pipes, causing blockages. 

Avoid pouring the cooking grease into the kitchen sink drain. Additionally, be mindful of the leftover food that may end up in the drain while washing the dishes. Empty all the food bits into the bin before washing the dishes.

7. Check the water quality

Another component that people often ignore is the water quality throughout the home. If you notice a change in the taste or smell of the water, immediately contact us, and a plumber in Toronto or the GTA area will have a look for you. 

If your hair and skin have been dryer than usual, the water in your home may be too hard. Prolonged use of hard water can deteriorate your hair and skin health; installing a water filtration device is recommended to prevent that. 

Final Thoughts

A few simple changes can go a long way, which is true in every aspect of life. With a little more concern and effort, you can ensure that the plumbing in your home performs optimally all year round. 

You can keep a few things in mind regarding plumbing, with regular maintenance and monitoring being the most important. Don’t hesitate to call Drain King Plumbers for any plumbing-related issue, and our professional plumbers in Toronto will be able to help you out.

For more information about taking care of your plumbing system or to book an appointment, call Drain King Plumbers at 833-983-5663 or contact us here.