PLUMBING TIPS FOR YOUR KITCHEN, BATHROOM, AND LAUNDRY ROOM

Most homes have three primary plumbing system subsets: the kitchen, the bathroom, and the laundry room. Each of these spaces comes with its own plumbing challenges, and each one requires a somewhat different approach when it comes to preventing clogs, leaks, and other plumbing problems. Use the following tips to prevent plumbing trouble in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.

Kitchen

Common kitchen problems include clogged drains, jammed garbage disposals, and leaky or low-pressure faucets. You only need to follow three key rules to reduce your risk of these troubles.

1. Clean Your Faucet Aerator

The aerator is the little appliance at the tip of your faucet that adds air to your water. If the aerator gets clogged with mineral deposits, the water pressure will decrease. Water pressure will also build up inside the faucet and pipes, making leaks more likely. Keep your aerator clean by unscrewing it and soaking it in vinegar every few months.

2. Be Careful What You Put Down the Drain

Never pour grease down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. It will clog your pipes, and grease clogs make it notoriously hard to repair pipes. If you have a garbage disposal, do not put fibrous veggies, pasta, coffee grounds, or meat bones down the disposal, as these can lead to clogs and seized grinders.

3. Keep Your Garbage Disposal Clean

A clean garbage disposal is less likely to seize up. Keep your disposal clean by grinding up some ice cubes and rock salt about once a week. You could also pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain to clean it.

Bathroom

Almost all clogs in the bathroom are caused by a combination of hair and soap scum. You can keep both of these items out of your drain by following these two tips.

1. Put a Mesh Strainer Over the Drain

The metal grate over the average shower drain has holes that are large enough to allow hair to pass through. To effectively keep hair out of your drain, purchase a wire mesh strainer and place it over your drain. Empty it of hair after every shower to keep the water flowing freely down the drain.

2. Use Liquid Soap or Body Wash

Soap scum forms when bar soap reacts with the minerals in your water. If soap scum is forming in your tub or sink, soap scum is also forming in your pipes, where it can grab onto small particles and lead to clogs. Switch to a liquid soap or body wash, which are both less likely to form soap scum. 

Laundry Room

In the laundry room, you need to be most concerned about clogs caused by lint and leaks in flexible washer hoses. Here’s how to prevent these two issues.

1. Put a Strainer Over Your Discharge Hose

Home improvement stores sell metal mesh sleeves designed to fit over the end of a washer discharge hose. Purchase a few mesh sleeves, and never run your washer without one. When the sleeve gets clogged with lint, replace it with a new one.

2. Check Hoses Frequently

The flexible hoses that carry water into and out of your washer are more prone to leaks than metal pipes. Look them over every couple of months. If you notice any shallow cracks or dry rot, replace the hose before the damage develops into a full-blown leak. Make sure the hoses are also connected snugly to the washer.

If you follow the tips above, you’ll reduce your chances of plumbing trouble in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. If you do notice leaks, clogs, or other issues, call us (317) 423-7289 to make an appointment today.