The New Year is a positive time – we’re inspired with hope by the idea of a fresh start and what the year may bring. So many of us resolve to save money or get our bodies in shape – but what about also getting our plumbing in shape this year? We’ve come up with 5 nifty plumbing-related resolutions that we think everyone should try over the course of the new year!
We would like to encourage you throughout the new year to follow these and other plumbing maintenance resolutions you may come up with, for the benefit of yourself and your family, your neighbors, and our environment.
1. Go, Green
Water is one of our most precious natural resources – we can’t live without it, and yet there’s a very limited supply. If you’re thinking of doing a kitchen, bath, or laundry room remodel this year, choose water-efficient faucets and shower heads, and/or place a point-of-use water heater in areas where you consistently run the taps to heat water up. Outdoors, you can install a drip irrigation system instead of a new sprinkler or consider setting up your own rainwater harvesting system to use for watering plants or washing your car.
2. Fix Your Toilet
It can be helpful to think of your toilet as another appliance in your home. Anything with moving parts can break or wear down – and that includes the moving parts of your toilet. Save water and avoid costly problems later with good maintenance this year.
3. Flush your water heater
Ideally, your water heater should last between 10 and 15 years, but without proper maintenance many fail after 5 or 6 years, leaving you frustrated and sometimes causing significant damage to your home. An annual flush and all-around check to make sure all the parts are functioning well can help you avoid cold showers, save you money, and extend the life of your water heater.
4. Keep Your Drains Clog-Free
Nobody wants to deal with the hassle (and often major expense) associated with clogged drains. This year, take steps to prevent clogs before they happen by placing mesh screens or strainers in your sinks, tub or shower, etc., and not putting anything down the drain or toilet that doesn’t belong (i.e. grease, baby wipes, razors, etc.), and by using non-corrosive, septic-friendly bacterial drain cleaners regularly.
5. Install a Water Filter
While we’re blessed with an abundance of clean drinkable water in the USA, there are still some things we can and should filter out of our water, like sand, dirt, and unhealthy chemicals. Whether you need a whole house sand separator to keep your drains, faucets, and water heater free of sediment, or just want to eliminate chlorine in your shower with a filtered shower head, purer water is always a good thing!
Courtesy of plumbingsupply.com
