A Plumbing Preventative Maintenance Checklist

When it comes to your home's plumbing, conducting a few preventative maintenance tasks can mean avoiding large repair bills down the road. A visit from a plumber for this work can also allow them to check for rusted pipes, small water leaks, and other problems that should be fixed as quickly as possible. If you've never thought about preventative maintenance plumbing services for your home's plumbing, note the following things a maintenance plumber can do for you.

1. Cleaning bathtub drains

You don't need to wait for a clog to have your bathtub drain cleaned. Having this done regularly can mean avoiding clogs and the need for harsh chemicals or awkward sewer snakes. A professional plumber that specializes in maintenance cleaning can use a variety of environmentally-friendly products that will remove any built-up grease, soap scum, hair, and the like in your drain. Some also use steam and pressure, much like a pressure washer you use on your home's exterior, to clean the drains. This can keep them flowing freely and, in turn, protect your pipes from damage.

2. Change out toilet parts

Your toilet's tank could very easily have a leak and you don't realize it, but if water leaks into the bowl this can cause the toilet to run sporadically in order to refill the tank. In turn, you are wasting water until you get defective parts replaced. A maintenance visit can mean changing those parts inside the toilet tank before seals get loose or a chain begins to fail, so that in turn, the toilet doesn't start leaking sometime down the road. A plumber can also adjust the water pressure or even advise on putting a brick or other item in the tank so you use less water each time you flush, saving this natural resource and saving you money on your water bill.

3. Flush the hot water heater

The hard water stains you see inside your bathtub and on your shower curtain are indicative of the hard water sediment that often collects inside a hot water heater. If this tank is never cleaned and flushed, this sediment can cause excessive wear and tear on the pipes of the hot water heater and also cause corrosion. It's good to have your hot water heater flushed and cleaned every year, especially if you know that your home has very hard water that contains lots of calcium and other sediment.