How to Prevent Leaks, Clogs and Flood Damage

You count on your home’s plumbing system to support daily chores and plumbing fixtures, but potential problems can hide around every corner. Luckily, you can avoid clogs, leaky pipes and even flooding with a little routine care. Here’s how to keep your plumbing in check and your stress in check.

1. Be Aware of What’s Going in the Drains

A lot of sinks in the kitchen may be equipped with a garbage disposal, but certain food items still not rinsed down the drain, including:

• Grease from cooking
• Fibrous foods like corn husks and stalks of celery
• Old food like steamed rice or coffee grounds
• Solid objects like fruit pits and animal bones
• Non-food items. Silverware and other small items may end up in the disposal and cause damage when you turn it on.

2. Be Aware of What Not to Flush

Toilets are designed to safely remove human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

• Baby and/or wet wipes
• Paper towels
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Sanitary products
• Diapers
• Floss
• Out-of-date medications

3. Employ Drain Strainers

Another effective way to lower the risk of a clog is to place sink strainers over your kitchen sinks and bathroom drains. They trap hair, bits of soap, crusty toothpaste and other debris as water enters the drain. Regularly clean these strainers to keep your drains running smoothly.

4. Find the Main Shutoff Valve

Being familiar with your plumbing system means knowing the location of your main water shutoff valve. This valve manages water flowing into your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to close this valve before going away for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home buried underground.

5. Get a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump helps prevent water damage, particularly in regions prone to heavy rainfall. This device extracts water that gathers in the sump basin, usually found in the basement, and expels it away from the house. If you already have a sump pump, make sure it’s in good shape by pouring water into the pit. As long as the pump activates and the pit drains, it’s working fine. If it doesn’t work properly, you have time to call a professional to repair the pump before another big thunderstorm rolls through.

6. Install Flood Flood Alarms

Just as smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms are useful for preventing water damage. These hardwired or battery-operated devices detect water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, triggering an alarm to notify you. For further protection, include smart flood alarms into your home security system. This sends a notification on your phone once water has been detected, enabling you to resolve leaking pipes before they cause significant damage.

7. Install a Backflow Valve

Experienced plumbers often suggest that homeowners install a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to keep sewage from backing up into their homes after heavy rainfall. Professionals can fit this strong layer of protection against sewage backflow.

Spot and Prevent Leaks of All Sizes

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home plumbing system is out of sight, so water issues often go unseen until they create the potential for water damage. Regularly checking for leaks can help you spot trouble before it gets worse. Here are some ideas for you to try:

• Inspect under the sink for signs of pooling water, wood decay or mold.
• Find slow leaks in the toilets by putting in a few drops of coloring to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, there is a leak.
• Inspect around and behind your appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaks.
• Conduct a water meter test.
  • To get started, shut off all water in your home via the main water lines.
  • Then, go outside to read the water meter. Check it again in two hours, being careful not to use any water before the second reading.
  • If the reading changes, there is a leak somewhere.

Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

In climates with cold winters, helping protect the plumbing pipes is vital if you want to minimize the risk of freezing and bursting. Here is what you can do:

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas like the basement, garage or attic with pipe insulation or heating tape.
• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets all through the winter to stop ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during freezing temperatures to encourage airflow around the pipes.

Work with a Reliable Plumber

While you can implement a wide variety preventive steps yourself to help prevent clogs, leaks and damage from floods, it’s never a bad idea to have an experienced plumber to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where comes in. We are a network of plumbers serving U.S. homes from coast to coast with service backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with our services up to a year later, we will do whatever it takes to make it right. This industry-leading dedication shows how we deliver total comfort and peace of mind in your life. For professional local plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today