General Home Plumbing Tips
- Pour a gallon of water into infrequently used drains (including floor drains) to fill the trap and prevent odors from entering the house. Slow floor drains should be snaked to ensure they will carry away water quickly in the event of a flood.
- Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks.
- If your home has a sump pump, make sure it operates properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should quickly turn on, discharge the water then shut off without any problems.
- Install a back-flow valve in the floor drain if you live in an area where sewers sometimes backup into homes. This device will prevent future backups.
- Inspect for slow leaks in your home by taking a reading on your water meter before bedtime. The next morning, without using any water overnight, take another reading. If the reading has changed you have a leak that should be repaired.
- Install flood alarms. Like a smoke alarm, a flood alarm is a battery-operated device that sounds an alarm when it comes in contact with water. It alerts you to potential flooding or leaks.
Outside Tips and Maintenance
- Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, open, and free of debris.
- Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely. If an outdoor faucet drips or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced.
- Remove leaves and debris from window wells.
- Check for birds' nests that may have been built in plumbing vent pipes, like the ones from the dryer to the outside.
- A twice-a-year application of Roto-Rooter® Root Destroyer can retard the growth of roots in your drain line. Simply pour the recommended dosage into your toilet bowl and flush the product into the line.
- Septic tanks should be inspected and pumped every three to five years to help prevent costly replacement of the filter field.
If you discover any of the issues during your spring cleaning, call Roto-Rooter today at 908-756-8110. Looking for more tips and savings on service? Sign up of our Roto-Rooter newsletter by clicking here!
