Plumbing

Make Simple Changes to Improve Your Plumbing Systems

It's hard to imagine life without a functional plumbing system. Running hot and cold water and having an easy method of ridding waste is something many take for granted. It's a big part of many daily household chores and activities, including cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

Taking care of your plumbing system is an important part of owning a home, and thankfully all you need to do is perform a few simple tasks to help your plumbing components last longer and malfunction less often. Here are some simple adjustments you should make to improve your home's plumbing.

Get a Hair Screen for Your Bathroom

One of the most common causes of clogs is hair getting trapped down our drains. This issue is mainly present in bathrooms, where we shave and take showers.

Hair tends to fall from our bodies and gets washed away. A great way of stopping these clogs is by using a hair screen. Get your screen at any major hardware or all-in-one department store.

This device sits over your shower drain and captures any long hairs before they can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. It's an incredibly effective way of keeping pipes clean.

Take Water Pressure Measurements

Do you enjoy high water pressure? Your plumbing system might not. Too much pressure can add undue stress to your plumbing components, which can lead to leaky fixtures and even bursts.

It's possible to keep track of water pressure by purchasing a measuring device at a hardware store. If you get a reading of 85 psi or higher, it's probably a good idea to touch base with a plumber and discuss how you can decrease water pressure.

If you own any low-flow plumbing devices, you should know that these devices don't diminish water pressure, only the amount of water that comes out.

Add a Strainer to Your Kitchen Sink

Another common cause of clogs is food particles from being flushed down the kitchen sink. After a while, this debris can accumulate and form blockages, leading to water leaks and burst pipes.

By using a sink strainer for your sink, however, you can stop any large particles from entering your plumbing system. It prevents them from being flushed away along with any water and is great at maintaining clean drains.

One more thing to note, during cleanup after meals, you shouldn't rinse your dishes that have built-up cooking grease or oils. These liquids change state and form solid blockages inside your pipes.