Keeping Your Plumbing System in Good Working Order

One of the most crucial systems in the home is your plumbing. However, since the piping is typically out of sight, some homeowners forget that their plumbing requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning at optimum. Here is how to keep your plumbing system in good working order all year round.

Regularly inspect for leaks

Leaks, whether big or small, can cause a significant amount of water damage to your home. Undetected leaks are even more problematic since by the time you realize one of your pipes was leaking, chances are your home has been exposed to great quantities of water. To prevent this from happening, it is best to carry out regular inspections on your plumbing. Leaks that are caused by burst pipes tend to occur in unheated basements, in crawl spaces, your exterior walls and even your garage. This is because the lack of insulation makes the piping in these locations susceptible to the freezing, which in turn will cause the piping to crack or even burst. If you cannot carry out these inspections on your own, enlist the services of a professional plumber, especially during the colder months, to carry out this task for you.

Darin your plumbing's faucets

Faucet draining becomes particularly important when winter begins to roll around. The reason for this is simple. If there is water in the faucets and they are not in use, the water will freeze and turn to ice. As the ice hardens, there will be increased pressure within the plumbing that increases the chances of the pipes cracking. To prevent this, it is best to always drain out your faucets and leave the taps slightly open. This way, even if they freeze and ice forms within them, the pressure will still have an escape route through the open faucet. Thus decreasing the chances of burst pipes.

Insulate your exposed pipes

One mistake homeowner make in an attempt to keep their indoor plumbing insulated is to completely seal off their home. Although this will ensure that temperatures stay favourable, you also are effectively cutting off any ventilation into the home. This then increases the chances of mould and mildew infestations. Rather than completely sealing off any airflow into your residence, opt to insulate any exposed plumbing. This can easily done by wrapping heat tape around the pipes to prevent them from freezing. 

For more information, talk to a plumber.