10 Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

It is important for you and everyone in your home to know a few plumbing basics. They can save you time and money down the road, as water damage repairs can be quite costly. Here are the top ten plumbing checks every homeowner should know:

1. Plumbing emergencies may require quick thinking and fast action. Everyone in your home should know where the main shut-off valve for the water is, just in case.

2. Learn how to read your water meter. When no one else is home and you know there is no water running, check your meter to ensure none of the dials are moving. If they are, then you may likely have a water leak somewhere.
(Insider Info: Toilets and faucets are the most likely culprits of these kinds of leaks, which are known to add a few hundred dollars a year to your water bill.)

3. Check for toilet leaks by inserting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. About 20 minutes later, check the toilet bowl for any presence of color. If you do see some color in the toilet bowl, there may be seepage around the flapper valve inside the toilet tank. It is an easy fix as long as you know there is a problem.

4. Try to drain a few gallons of water from your hot water heater tank twice a year. This ensures the valve works and also allows sediment accumulating at the bottom of the tank to clear out, maximizing heating efficiency.

(Insider Info: If you have the funds, invest in a tankless water heater and watch your utility bills lower because no energy is spent keeping gallons and gallons of water hot in a storage tank. A tankless water heater heats water on demand, when you need it.)

5.  When your toilet looks like it might overflow, remove the tank lid and press down on the flush valve, which plugs the hole at the bottom of the tank. This prevents the toilet from overflowing while you determine the source of the clog causing the problem. You may also turn off the water supply line located in the wall behind your toilet.

6. Keep all water and drain valves operational by opening and closing them at least twice a year. If you do not do this, a valve may freeze up over time. If you are caught in a plumbing dilemma and cannot turn the valve off, you could be facing serious problems.

7. Learn where these three stop valves are in your home. This allows you to turn off water at the problem source rather than inconvenience an entire household by turning off the main water shut-off valve to the house.

• Faucets (beneath kitchen cabinets)
• Refrigerator lines (in the wall behind the refrigerator)
• Toilets (in the wall behind the toilet)

8. Keep a plunger around for clogged sinks and toilets as they are effective tools for clearing clogged plumbing lines.

9. Invest in a few replacement parts such as a toilet kit and rubber gaskets for those simple plumbing fixes around the home.

10. Avoid chemical drain cleaners for removing clogs. Instead, use a plunger or invest in a plumbing tool called an auger (a.k.a. "snake”) for those tough obstructions in plumbing pipes.

NOTE: If you encounter a plumbing problem you cannot resolve, or an emergency arises, always hire a qualified contractor to address the issue. 

In need of a reputable company to address water damage due to a plumbing-related leak or water damage inside your home? Rely on Specialized Outsource Solutions for 24-hour emergency services. Call 1-888-589-1858 and we’ll direct you to the right plumber for the job.