When the weather starts to chill off, many of us are getting our homes ready for the upcoming holiday season. While you may be concerned with activities like holiday decorating, you don’t want to overlook your plumbing system. Here are a few good tips for avoiding potential plumbing issues during the holiday season.
1. Get an Inspection
One of the best things you can do is to get a professional plumbing inspection. One of our plumbing professionals will come and assess every component of your plumbing system to ensure it’s working correctly. This inspection is great for catching hidden leaks and other issues so that you can have them repaired before they create a bigger issue.
2. Invest in Drain Cleaning
Most people are familiar with calling for drain cleaning service after they experience a clog. However, that’s not the only time you should be calling for this plumbing service. Drain cleaning should be done at least once a year to help remove excess buildup inside your piping that would otherwise lead to a clog. By removing this material, you can drastically reduce your risk of experiencing a sewer clog over the holiday season.
3. Schedule Water Heater Maintenance
Preparing your water heater for the increased demand over the holiday season starts with professional maintenance service. During this service, one of our plumbing professionals will flush your water heater, check its pressure relief valve, and ensure that all the connections are tight. You may want to increase the thermostat on your water heater to help provide more heat to your water during the colder season. With colder temperatures, the hot water coming from your water heater will likely experience a large drop in temperature during the winter compared to the summer.
4. Include Drain Instructions
If you’re going to be having guests over at your home during the holiday season, it’s important to provide them with instructions about your drains and toilets. Consider placing signs in your bathroom asking guests not to use flushable wipes and to dispose of feminine hygiene products in the garbage can. Additionally, consider instructing guests about what items can and can’t go down your garbage disposal.
5. Use Drain Strainers
Unfortunately, when items that shouldn’t go down the drain end up there, they can create clogs. One of the best ways to help avoid these unfortunate items from going down your drain is to use a strainer. These are simple mesh strainers that sit down in the drain and collect items like hair to prevent them from flowing down your drains. Be sure to clean these strainers at least once a month for the best results.
6. Test Shut-Off Valves
Each shut-off valve throughout your plumbing system plays an important role in successfully controlling the flow of water. For example, if you have a plumbing leak at your sink, being able to shut off the water supply can help to prevent further damage until you can have the problem repaired. Do yourself a favor and test all of the shut-off valves throughout your plumbing system to ensure each one is working correctly. Testing is as easy as turning the valve off and then running the fixture down the line to ensure the water stops flowing.
7. Get Septic Pumping Service
If you live in a rural area, then you likely have a septic tank that you rely on to handle the disposal of your wastewater. This septic tank needs to be pumped regularly to ensure that it doesn’t overfill and back up into your home and the surrounding soil. Most homeowners find they need to pump their tanks every two to five years. If you’re due for pumping service, it’s best to get it done before the holiday season requires an increased demand on your tank.
8. Test Sump Pump
If you experience flooding in your home due to being in a low-lying area, then a sump pump is an ideal investment. To ensure that your pump is working correctly, it’s best to test it. This is as simple as pouring some water into the pump basin until it gets high enough that the pump turns on. Make sure that it adequately removes the water and then shuts back off.
9. Repair Known Issues
Plumbing issues like a leaky faucet or a constantly running toilet are easy to ignore when you don’t have the time. It’s best to call one of our plumbing professionals to repair these known issues before the holiday season arrives. You don’t want one of these small issues to turn into major damage while you’re celebrating the cheery season with your family and friends at home.
10. Clean Your Garbage Disposal
If you have a garbage disposal to help handle your kitchen waste and cleaning process, then cleaning it before the new year is a great idea. Opt for using a vinegar solution alongside ice cubes to help eliminate odors and sharpen the disposal’s blades.
11. Upgrade Outdated Fixtures and Appliances
If your home has outdated plumbing fixtures or appliances, you’re more likely to experience an issue. Both appliances and fixtures will have an increased risk of failure as they get older and older. To help minimize your risk of experiencing an issue with your plumbing fixtures or appliances, consider upgrading. Newer appliances and fixtures are much less likely to unexpectedly break down.
12. Insulate Your Piping
While it’s very true that Florida doesn’t regularly experience temperatures below freezing, they do happen from time to time. To ensure that your pipes don’t freeze, it’s best to insulate your piping. Styrofoam insulation is a popular method for both cold and hot water lines. Insulation will prevent freezing of your cold water pipes on those rare occasions that temperatures drop below freezing. Insulation on your hot water lines will help to maintain the water’s temperature on its journey from your hot water heater to your plumbing fixtures and appliances.
13. Get a Water Pressure Test
The water pressure coming into your home from the city’s main water supply line can have a tremendous impact on the longevity of your piping. If the pressure is too high, it will deteriorate the plumbing connections and lead to more problems with your system. It’s best to have a professional test the PSI of your incoming water supply to determine if it’s above 60. If so, you may want to consider having a pressure reducer installed to help reduce the pressure of water that travels through your piping. When you’re more capable of controlling the water’s pressure flow, you can better protect the longevity of your entire plumbing system.
Reliable Plumbing Repair Service
Bamboo Plumbing offers reliable plumbing repair service to the Boca Raton, FL area. We can assist with all your plumbing installation, water heater, drain, sewer, kitchen, bath, slab leak repair, backflow prevention, emergency plumbing repair, sump pump, ejector pump, water filtration, and gas line needs. Call us today to book a service consultation with one of our reliable plumbers.
