It goes without saying that, as a homeowner, there are lots of things to keep track of. There are many components that go into making your home a wonderful place, and it can be hard to ensure everything is running as it should.
One important element is the plumbing. It’s easy to forget about your plumbing unless there is a problem: a leaky pipe, a broken water heater, or a clogged drain. It’s important to know specific things about your plumbing as a way to prevent catastrophes from happening down the line. So here’s a guide on what every homeowner should know about their home’s plumbing.
Table of Contents
Know Where your Sewer and Water Lines are
First off, it’s important to know where your sewer lines are, in case of a sewer line that bursts or a clogged pipe. If you don’t know the exact location, you may have to pay for extra digging and may even risk accidently digging up pipes that aren’t damaged. The more information you can give to your plumber about the locations of these lines, the better.
Read Also: PEX Tubing and Plumbing Services
Know Where your Water Valve is
Additionally, knowing the location of your water valve is especially important in case there is a water leak. When this happens, you can simply go right to your main water valve and turn it off, while you wait for a plumber at a company like Plumbing Pros to save the day. The water valve is typically found in the basement, or on an outside utility wall next to the home. You can simply turn it off by twisting the spout clockwise.
It’s also helpful to know where your water comes from, in case you need to locate the valve. Do you use city or well water? If you use well water, you should be able to know exactly how to access this water. City water, on the other hand, will come via pipes in your yard.
Shut Off Valves on Every Faucet
Every home should ideally have a shut off valve on every faucet, including every sink, shower, toilet, washing machine, hot water heater, dishwasher, and any other appliances that use water. Having a separate shut off valve on every faucet will ensure that if there is a problem with one area, there still will be water access in other parts of the home. It may be hard to locate these valves, so if you aren’t sure about their status and would like to double-check what is going on, a plumber can check for and install ones if they are missing.
Things that say Flushable are not, in Fact, Flushable
You may notice that some wipes and even feminine hygiene products may say that they are flushable on their packaging. Unfortunately, this is not true because they don’t break down in the same way toilet tissue does. They can cause clogs, so play it safe and simply toss these items in the trash and not down the toilet.
The Correct Water Pressure for your Home
A home’s water pressure should not be any higher than 80 psi (pounds per square inch). If it is any higher than this, there’s a high chance that there will be leaks in your pipes due to the increasing pressure buildup. To easily bypass this, you can have a plumber install a water pressure gauge for you to check easily. Just make sure to call an expert as soon as your psi level goes over 80 psi, as you don’t want to risk any leaks in your home.
With these tips in mind, any homeowner should be able to keep check of their home’s plumbing without a problem.
