Buying your first home is both rewarding and exciting, but it comes with a lot of new responsibilities like keeping the plumbing system working properly. The following plumbing tips can help make the task less daunting, so you can enjoy the perks of home ownership with a little less stress.
Locate the Water Shutoffs
Learning where the water supply shutoffs are for each of your plumbing fixtures can help you minimize mess if a sink supply line springs a leak or a toilet starts to overflow. Even more important is locating your main shutoff valve, so you can halt the water flow immediately if an inaccessible pipe bursts and floods your home.
Maintain the Water Heater
If you have zero experience with water heaters, you should hire a professional plumber to make sure the appliance is in good working condition. A pro can drain and flush the tank to remove sediment as well, and demonstrate how to test the temperature and pressure relief (T&P) valve. Both of these chores are an important part of yearly maintenance to ensure the appliance operates efficiently and safely.
Take a Proactive Approach to Maintenance
Fix minor plumbing problems promptly, like leaky faucets and running toilets, and regularly check for leaks around your appliances, inside the sink cabinets and around each toilet base. If you’re having house-wide problems like sluggish drains, frequent clogs in multiple fixtures, or an unexpected drop in water pressure, call a plumbing pro right away to find out why.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Having a plumbing emergency kit of basic tools and supplies on hand can help you get a plugged-up sink or clogged toilet fixed quickly, or allow you to control a leak until professional help arrives. All you need is a 5-gallon bucket stocked with a flashlight, plunger, an adjustable wrench, screwdriver and pliers. Add some thick cloths to mop up spills, and rolls of Teflon and duct tape to stop a leak temporarily.
To learn more plumbing tips, or for expert help dealing with a plumbing problem in your new Portland-area home, contact us at Roth Home & Cooling.