Like any mechanical system, the need for plumbing repairs will occur from time to time. However, taking better care of your plumbing system and fixing small problems soon can help prevent major issues from happening.
FM Mechanical in Edmonton offers plumbing installations and repairs. They share some helpful tips that can help prevent plumbing issues.
Be mindful of what goes down the drain.
What you drain down the kitchen sink can have a significant impact on your plumbing system. Chunks of food, gunk, hair, grease, and fat can all get stuck in the drain and cause a problem.
Never pour cooking grease down the drain. That includes cooking oil and fat and even rinsing a greasy pan. The grease will harden when it cools and create a build-up in your pipes. Instead, pour the grease into a container and throw it in the garbage. Wipe down excessively greasy pots and pans with a paper towel or rag before rinsing it in the sink.
Use a drain screen. Drain screens are an inexpensive way to protect your drains and pipes. Put one in the kitchen sink, bathtub, and shower to prevent bits of food, hair, slivers of soap, and other small items from getting washed down the drain. Drain screens are a cheap and easy way to prevent plumbing clogs and backups.
Avoid harmful chemical drain cleaners. Store-bought drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes. While it might help remove a clog, overuse can corrode your pipes and cause more significant problems down the road. Instead, try a homemade non-toxic drain cleaner. If that doesn’t work, contact FM Mechanical to unclog and clean the drain for you.
Don’t over-crank your sink faucet handles
When you turn off the tap, be careful not to crank the handles more than is necessary to turn off the water. If you are too forceful at tightening the faucet handles, you can wear down the little washers inside of them and cause damage. Over-cranked handles are a common cause of leaky taps.
Prevent frozen pipes
Frozen pipes can cause your pipes to leak or burst. Make sure that any pipes along the outside wall are insulated. FM Mechanical recommends shutting off the exterior hose tap only and letting it freeze shut in the winter. More importantly, FM Mechanical suggests to disconnect hoses from being attached to the exterior hose taps in the fall. Keep the heat on in the home, even when you are out of town, to ensure those pipes stay nice and warm.
If you are away from home, ask your house sitter to run the taps when they check on the house. Running the taps will help detect a frozen pipe. Also, moving water will help prevent freezing in the plumbing system.
Plumbers in Edmonton
If you have any issues with your plumbing, trust the professionals at FM Mechanical. They are a family-owned and operated company with over 30 -years of serving Edmonton and surrounding areas. FM Mechanical is committed to timely, friendly, and quality service for all your plumbing installations and repairs.
If you need help, contact them!
