Bathroom Plumbing Basics – Keep Water Flowing
The biggest cause of bathroom plumbing problems is lack of maintenance. If you follow these bathroom plumbing basics, and do some regular maintenance on your plumbing system, you can reduce your dependence on professional plumbers and keep your family and house guests happy and safe.
Keep the Toilet In Good Working Order.
The biggest cause of toilet stoppages is the presence of materials of substances that should never have been flushed down the toilet. Only toilet paper and human waste should ever be flushed down a toilet. Paper towels are often the biggest cause of toilet stoppages.
For this reason, we suggest you remove all paper towels from all bathrooms – if someone runs out of toilet paper, they may be tempted to reach for the paper towels. If someone accidentally drops a foreign object into the toilet – like a toothbrush – do not flush: remove the object from the toilet bowl, even if you have to do it by hand.
We have seen many occasions where we have been called to unblock a toilet and all we found we something like a toothbrush in there, which will prevent toilet paper from being flushed and will cause a stoppage.
Place Clean Trash Cans In Every Bathroom
The best way to prevent people from throwing foreign objects into the toilet is to keep clean trash receptacle in every bathroom. Instruct all family members and any house guests that only toilet paper should go in the toilet and all other materials, including paper towels, should be placed in the toilet.
It might be a good idea to post a sign to the effect that only toilet paper and human waste are to go in to the toilet, and all other materials and objects must be placed in the trash can.
Install A Protective Screen Over All Drains
Examine the drains in every shower, bathtub and sink. Install a protective metal screen over each drain. This prevents soap, hair, and other materials from entering your plumbing system and causing blockages and other problems.
Change Your Shower Head
Old shower heads deliver too much water. This causes waste. Consider installing a newer, more efficient shower head. These deliver less water so you use less and waste less.
Monitor Your Water Heater Thermostat Settings
At different times of the year, and depending on your local weather conditions, you might need to adjust the thermostat settings on your water heater. We suggest a maximum temperature setting of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fix Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets cost you money! Most leaky faucets can be fixed by replacing a simple washer in the faucet. Remember to turn off the water source before unscrewing the faucet to make repairs.
Test For Slow Leaks
Slow leaks cost you money, and you probably didn’t even know you had a leak. Here’s how to test if you have a slow leak: Check your water meter reading when everyone in your family has gone to sleep and no water is being used.
The next morning, if the meter reading has advanced, you have a slow, imperceptible leak. A good plumber will have equipment to electronically locate the source of any water leak – even a leak concealed behind a wall, beneath a concrete slab, or even deep underground.
