With so many things to think about when buying a new home, it can be easy to overlook the hidden costs of basic plumbing repairs. After all, who wants to deal with the mess of clogged drains or faulty pipes? However, once you’ve moved in, the day will come when something goes wrong with your home’s plumbing. Thankfully, many common plumbing issues can be prevented with simple maintenance and prevention techniques. By following these simple tips, you can avoid the expense and headache of more serious plumbing issues in the future. If you’re looking to buy a new home or simply want to keep up with maintenance on an existing property, here are some DIY plumbing tips to help you get the most out of your plumbing system. Keep reading to learn more about how you can prevent plumbing headaches from happening in the future.
Change the filter often
One of the easiest ways to prevent costly plumbing issues is to change the filter in your home’s water system regularly. Over time, water filters can become clogged with dirt and other debris - blocking water from flowing through the system as it should. If you find that your filter is clogged, you can use a plunger to unclog it, or you can purchase a new one at your local hardware store. If you find that you need to replace your water filter more often than expected, it could indicate that your well or municipal water has higher levels of minerals or minerals that can cause a buildup in the filter. These extra minerals can be harmful to your family’s health, so it’s important to address this issue as soon as possible.
Check the temperature of your hot water supply
It’s not always easy to tell if you’ve got enough hot water in your home. However, if you regularly experience long wait times between showers or baths, it could be an indication that you need to adjust the temperature of your hot water supply. While you have access to your home’s main water supply, turn the temperature dial to the coldest setting and let it run for a few minutes. Once it reaches the desired temperature, you can adjust the dial back to the hot setting. If your home’s hot water supply has a constant flow of cold water, you can turn to a tankless water heater to solve this problem. These water heaters are more efficient than traditional water heaters and can be installed in a closet or utility room, making them less intrusive and easier to access.
Schedule professional cleanings
If you have an older home with pipes that are made up of old materials and materials that aren’t designed for today’s standards, you may find yourself dealing with clogged drains and pipes on a regular basis. While you can try to unclog your drains with baking soda and vinegar, or even hire a plumber to come out and dig up your drains with a plumbing snake, you should also consider scheduling professional cleanings once or twice a year. While you may be able to clear your drains by hand, you could be risking more serious issues like back-ups or sewage spills if you don’t hire a professional.
Install a water meter and shut-off before you sell your home
If you plan to sell your home in the near future, you may want to consider installing a water meter and shut-off. This will allow you to shut off the water supply and avoid high water bills in the future. If you have an older home with copper pipes, you can have the entire system replaced with plastic or PVC pipes. If your home has cast iron pipes, you can have them replaced with PVC pipes, or you can install a pre-cast iron pipe system. This will allow you to sell your home without worrying about a broken pipe or a damaged water meter.