Your pipes are basically the veins of your plumbing system. Without functional piping, you wouldn’t be able to pump in the potable water you need to drink, dispose of dangerous wastewater, or vent dangerous gasses. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to support the health or their pipes and make sure they last as long as possible. Keep reading for the top five ways to increase the lifespan of your pipes and remember to call our professional plumbers at AAA Service Plumbing, Heating & Electric for all your necessary pipe repairs and replacements.
5 Tips to Help Your Pipes Last Longer
- Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners: This is something we cannot stress enough. If you’re experiencing a drain clog in your home, you may be tempted to purchase a liquid drain cleaner. Yet this is one of the worst things you can do for your pipes. Store-bought drain cleaners contain toxic chemicals that can eat away at your pipes over time. They may eat away at that clog too, but oftentimes they prove ineffective, and end up sitting on top of a blockage rather than getting rid of it, just waiting for a dangerous back-up to occur. For the health of your pipes, not to mention your family, avoid using chemical drain cleaners whenever possible. Instead, call AAA for drain cleaning that’s designed to get rid of clogs quickly, safely, and completely.
- Monitor Your Water Pressure: The higher your water pressure is, the greater chance of your pipes bursting and becoming damaged over time. Avoid unnecessary pipe replacements by checking your water pressure regularly to make sure it’s not too high. To do this, purchase a water pressure gauge and find a threaded tap (usually located somewhere like your laundry room or outside your house) to install it. If this device tells you your water pressure is over 85 PSI (pounder per square inch,) have a professional come out to look at your plumbing system.
- Don’t Flush Anything Besides Toilet Paper: While most people have casually tossed a scrap of paper in their toilet over time, the honest truth is that the only things you should be flushing are waste, water, the occasional cleaning product, and toilet paper. Other paper products, ranging from cotton balls to tissues to paper towels to tampons/pads should all be thrown in the garbage instead. Even so-called “flushable wipes” are extremely bad for your pipes, and can cause extensive blockages and chokepoints. Basically, flushing any items besides toilet paper can lead to leaking, bursting, and back-ups in your pipes, potentially forcing you to call not only for piping service, but toilet repair, too.
- Don’t Ignore Leaks: Every homeowner has heard the drip-drip-dripping sound of a leak at some point, but just because this may seem like a common issue does not mean you should ignore it. Even small leaks can add up by raising your water bills over time. Moreover, persistent leaks usually indicate there is damage somewhere in your pipes. The longer you wait to deal with a leak, the worse it is likely to get, so make sure to hire a plumber for leak detection sooner rather than later if you keep heating that dripping sound.
- Pay Attention to Slow Drains: Slow drains are a top indicator that there is a blockage somewhere in your pipelines. And as we’ve established, when blockages occur in your plumbing system, pressure can build-up, resulting in all kinds of problems for your pipes. If you notice your drains are slow, you should try plunging them or using a drain snake to remove the obstruction. You can also hire our drain experts at AAA Service Plumbing, Heating & Electric to inspect your lines for you and identify any clogs or other problems that could interfere with the health of your pipes.
Start protecting your pipes today! Call (303) 313-3333 now to schedule service, or contact us online for more helpful tips and tricks.
