Best tips to protect and maintain your pipes

By doing some simple routine maintenance and caring for your pipes, they’ll return the favor to you by lasting longer, working better, and helping you to avoid costly repairs down the track.

While the plumbing system of your home can often be forgotten when it comes to maintenance and daily care, it can be easy to take your plumbing and pipes for granted.

Although the pipes in your home can be complex, there are simple things you can do to make sure your pipes are protected and can function as best as possible. Think of this as an engine check for your house. Take care of it, and it’ll take care of you.

Basic maintenance for your pipes

You probably don’t think much about the pipes inside your walls that deliver hot and cold water and eliminate your waste. To help with the basic upkeep, here are some considerations that can help keep your pipes in tip-top condition.

• Have a regular annual plumbing check done by a professional as they can identify any problem and prevent them from becoming bigger issues down the track
• When small fixes are needed, it’s perfectly safe to do some DIY maintenance and repairs, but make sure to research and use the proper tools for the job.
• With some regular basic maintenance and knowledge, you can prevent future issues and can keep your plumbing running smoothly
• Doing simple routine maintenance will help prevent major pipe problems in your home and save you money.

Two key areas to take care of – kitchen and bathroom pipes

When it comes to plumbing maintenance, the kitchen and bathroom are two key areas you need to take care of. After all, they are the most frequently used pipes on the property.

Kitchen

• Avoid putting any fat, oil, or grease down the drain. Fatty, oily, and greasy substances easily go down as a liquid, but they will quickly congeal, solidify, and then settle, creating a clogged pipe and trapping food and particles as they wash down.
• Coffee grounds can cause a similar problem, so dump those into the bin instead
• Scrape food waste from your plate into the bin as food build-up can clog pipes
• Using a strainer to help keep food and other particles from going down the drain and clogging your pipes
• Run hot water for a minute or two after you’ve finished doing the dishes. It will help push food oils and more through the pipes keeping them from getting stuck

Bathroom

• Avoid letting hair go down the shower drain or sink. Hair will easily catch in the sludge that naturally builds up in drains, creating a clog. A simple measure is to put a strainer over the drain so that you can easily gather hair and throw it into the bin instead.
• Only flush waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Feminine products, baby wipes, cotton balls, and other things should not be flushed.
• Keep an eye out for soap scum. Soap scum is a by-product of soap and hard water (water that contains relatively high amounts of minerals), and it can quickly build up and clog a drain.

We have also developed a list of items to avoid putting down your drains.

Using drain cleaners

There may be times where you need to bring in the cavalry to solve a problem: i.e., drain cleaners. But there are some things you should know before buying store-bought drain cleaners and simply using them to solve your problems.

• Do not use store-bought drain cleaners to address a problem with slow draining sinks or a known clog. These products have harmful caustic chemicals that can do more harm than good to your plumbing.
• Using a combination of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water is one of the most effective ways to clean a drain. Pour some baking soda into your drainer, let it sit, and then pour one cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it work for 30 minutes, and then clear it out by pouring very hot or even boiling water down the drain.

A routine maintenance check is better than a cold shower!

Doing a routine maintenance check to keep your plumbing systems in perfect conditions doesn’t have to be a huge task. Plus, taking the time or having it checked professionally is well worth the time and money invested. You can also check out our plumbing checklist for tips on how to prepare your house for Spring.

Also, having a routine maintenance check gives you peace of mind that your system is prepared, and avoids costly repairs. If you need help with anything, call us on 0488 097 697.