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Prevent Plumbing Problems

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Legacy real estate CA BRE#00886348

Plumbing problems like a clogged drain or selly garbage disposal can be inconvenient, but are fairly simple to correct on your own.  Other problems require you to hire a professional and can be quite costly.  To avoid plumbing problems, both small and extensive, keep the following maintenance and preventative suggestions in mind:

 

In the kitchen:

•·         Never pour grease down the drain. Wipe congealed grease from pans with a paper towel before rinsing in the sink.

•·         Do not put such foods in your garbage disposal as coffee grounds, celery, corn husks, pumpkin or squash, banana peels, raw meat, bones, rice or pasta.

•·         Vacuum your refrigerator's coils regularly to help it cool more efficiently.

In the bathroom:

•·         Put strainers in your tubs and showers to trap hair and keep drains flowing smoothly; be sure to clean them regularly.

•·         Do not attempt to flush facial tissues, sanitary products or diapers.  Anything other than toilet paper should be thrown away in the trash, not the toilet.

In the garage:

•·         Check your water meter when no water is being used, then check it again several hours later. If you notice a significant change in the reading, you may have an undetected water leak.

•·         Annually check the hoses on your washing machine for signs of creacking or weak sots.  Replace if needed.

 

Brian Ripp, CRS, GRI, Broker - your Bay Area Realtor

www.BrianRipp.com   Serving Fremont, Newark, Union City & surrounding communities. Real Estate & Property Management.

Real Estate Market Weekly Update Webcast: http://realtytimes.com/REUv/BrianRipp

Eric Villaverde
DoubleTree Home Inspection Services L.L.C. - Phoenix, AZ

Thanks for sharing your post with me today. I wish you the best this weekend.

Jul 18, 2009 11:24 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Excellent advice...I would add to NOT place self-cleaning/bleaching devices in the toilet tanks and to clean kitchen and bath drains monthly with HOT VINEGAR used to clean electric coffee makers....follow cleaning instructions and pour 1st 1005 hot vinegar down kitchen and then bath tub/sink drains and then dilute second pouring into coffee maker half vinegar/half normal temp water.  I've had these instructions in my Resident Handbook for the last 5 years and have very few repair calls for "slow drains"!

Jul 19, 2009 10:39 PM
Robert Machado
HomePointe Property Management, CRMC - Sacramento, CA
CPM MPM - Property Manager and Property Management

Those are all good tips.  We can all benefit by taking care of our pipes!

Jul 25, 2009 05:52 PM
Rooter Man Plumbing
Rooter Man Plumbing - Charleston, SC

Great article! Thanks for sharing these tips. This advice is basic information that is good for everyone to know.

Charleston Area Plumbers

Jun 20, 2011 09:38 AM