2024 Plumbing Resolutions
Happy New Year! As we start off 2024, we thought this would be a great time to share a few plumbing resolutions for you to make. Keep your plumbing (and your wallets) happy by keeping these resolutions over the next 12 months.
Don’t ignore small issues
Resolve to address small plumbing problems thoroughly while they are small. Those little annoying leaks can mean over a hundred litres of lost water per day. Water waste costs money and can cause expensive damages, and plumbing problems can be indicators of larger issues brewing.
Make 2024 the year that you take your small plumbing problems seriously and enjoy the savings in your wallet and your sanity by preventing major plumbing problems and damage. This might mean making more frequent plumbing calls, but you won’t be quite as frantic when you do!
Take better care of your drains
There are several ways that people abuse their drains and cause damage. Drains are important elements of functioning plumbing. This year, try to be more careful with your drains so they can continue to work as you need them to.
Drain guards are inexpensive, easy to use, and can keep hair and other debris from clogging your drain. Put one in your kitchen sink and your bathtub drain to instantly help prevent annoying and potentially expensive buildup.
Don’t throw items like paper or sanitary waste in your toilet. That drain may look big, but it is not designed to deal with things that don’t disintegrate or go through the wastewater treatment process.
Chemical de-cloggers like Drano are designed to be very corrosive to break up clogs. But that corrosiveness can also cause toilet bowls to fracture, PVC pipes to break or melt, and can destroy the glue that holds pipes together. These items are either costly to repair or will make your plumbing inoperable. Try a plunger instead and check out this post on clearing a toilet clog without a plunger.
Pay attention to water quality and your water heater
It can be easy to take your water for granted. Water is typically delivered fresh, clean, and hot on demand, and that’s exactly as it should be. Give your water heater and water quality a little attention a couple of times a year to ensure efficiency from your faucets.
Maintain your water heater
Did you know that your water heater is meant to be flushed every 6 months to a year? You can flush your own water heater by following a few simple steps:
Turn off your heater
Connect a hose to the outlet
Drain the water into a bucket or directly into your floor drain to flush out sediments that can build up and reduce your water heater’s performance
Open the drain spigot and allowing water to flush through until it runs clear
You can also have a professional perform a water heater flush while they are performing regular maintenance. This will extend the life of your unit and ensure you don’t have an untimely breakdown.
Check your water quality
Sometimes your tap water provides evidence of potential concerns. Is your skin dry? Are you noticing a build-up of calcium? Does your water suddenly get way too hot? All these are indications of a change in your water, and you should be aware of what is causing it.
Water that is suddenly too hot can be an indication that your thermostat has been adjusted or perhaps even broken. Check your thermostat, which is located on your hot water tank, to ensure settings are at the optimal level and adjust to a lower temperature if needed. If your water is still too hot, your thermostat or water heater might need replacing. An overheating water heater could leak or even burst – don’t ignore the warning signs and call your plumber immediately.
If you find build-up, skin dryness, or odours and stains, you may have hard water. Consider talking to a professional about filtration or water softening.
Keep these resolutions in mind to help ensure you’ll have good plumbing all year long! We plan for the unpredictable, so if something does happen, give our team a call!