Dealing with plumbing issues like clogs, leaks, and sewer backups can be frustrating and messy. It causes damage to your home while eating into your pocket. You can prevent your money from going down the drain with specific preventive measures. Let’s delve into the top four money-saving plumbing tips.
1. Maintain Your Drains
Most homeowners wait for their drains to clog before taking action, but there’s a better way. You could prevent clogging altogether by regularly maintaining your drains. Something as simple as running hot water down your kitchen and bathroom drains once a week can go a long way toward preventing clogs and keeping your drains running freely. Using sink strainers is another easy way to prevent clogging and other issues.
2. Be Mindful of What You Put Down Your Drains
In addition to maintaining your drains, you also need to be careful about what you and your family members and guests flush down them. One of the most common offenders is cooking fat. While fats are liquid when heated, many of them turn solid at room temperature. When dumped down the sink, grease quickly blocks drains and pipes by solidifying and catching other debris that comes through the pipes.
Other things to avoid putting down the drain include pasta, rice, and coffee grounds. You also want to be careful about flushing paper towels, hygiene products, and so-called “flushable” wipes down your toilet. Being mindful about what goes down your drains can help you save money by preventing costly repairs.
3. Watch for Toilet Leaks
A toilet leak is annoying and can result in water wastage and increased water bills. Most people assume that a toilet leak is a minor issue since it’s usually only drops of water. However, a toilet that leaks or runs continuously can waste as much as 6,000 gallons of water each month. Depending on where you live, that could add $70 or more to your monthly water bill. Getting timely repairs for a leaky toilet is another easy way to save money.
4. Go for Low-Flow Toilets and Fixtures
Installing a low-flow showerhead can take you a long way in saving on water consumption. Most people use showers without thinking about how much water they consume. In a household full of people, a low-flow showerhead can save thousands of gallons a week.
If you have an older toilet, you can also replace it with a low-flow model. A regular toilet may use up to 7 gallons of water per flush, whereas a low-flow model will only use around 1.5 gallons each flush. All the water you save on flushing can add up to considerable savings.
The plumbing tips above can help you save money by reducing water usage and preventing costly issues. However, certain cases may call for a professional’s assistance. If you need plumbing services in Antioch, CA (East Bay) or the surrounding area, contact our team at Almighty Plumbing to schedule an appointment.
