Top 5 Plumbing Tips That Save Money

Reducing water waste and maintaining your plumbing system can help you save substantially over time. Besides lowering your water bills, effective plumbing maintenance can also prevent major breakdowns that can put a big dent in your wallet. Check out these five money-saving plumbing tips for your Burleson, Texas, home:

Turn Off Your Taps Properly

If you have a dripping faucet, you may think the amount of water wasted is negligible. However, in some cases, a faucet can drip at a rate of up to 15 gallons a day. You can reduce water waste in your home by making a conscious effort to turn off your taps all the way. If a faucet continues to leak despite being fully closed, repair or replace it. As a result, you’ll prevent wasting water and leaking money down the drain.

Use Low-Flow Shower Heads

Replacing conventional shower heads with low-flow models can significantly reduce daily water utilization. Low-flow shower heads are available in most hardware stores, and they’re easy to install. If you want to further lower your utility bills, you can set a shower time limit in your home.

Find and Fix Hidden Leaks

While some water leaks are easily noticeable, others are hidden and require some investigating. To find out if there are any hidden leaks, turn off every tap and appliance and check the water meter to see if it’s running. If the meter continues to run, it’s a sign you have a hidden leak somewhere in your home. In this case, you should hire a plumber to locate and fix the leak.

Prevent Buildups in Drains

Many homeowners don’t pay attention to their drains until they become clogged or damaged. To keep your drains in good working condition and prevent buildups, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar into them at least once a month. Avoid using a drain cleaner that contains harsh chemicals because it can damage your pipes and harm to the environment. In the bathrooms, place strainers over the sink, shower, and bathtub drains to prevent soap and hair from getting into the pipes.

Another thing to bear in mind is you shouldn’t pour cooking grease down drains. When the grease solidifies, it may stick to the insides of the pipe and build up over time, resulting in a clogged drain. Instead of pouring grease down the drain, you can pour it into a metal can, let it cool and solidify, then dispose of it.

Check the Toilet

Your toilet is a plumbing fixture that uses a lot of water. Therefore, you should make sure it’s in good condition. If you hear gurgling sounds coming out of your toilet, you may be dealing with a main drain problem. This issue is likely to occur if you live in an older home with a main drain made of clay. As underground roots grow, they may penetrate or put pressure on your pipes, which causes your toilet to make gurgling sounds. If you have a gurgling toilet, contact a plumber before your main drain breaks.

In addition, you should check your toilet for leaks. You can do this by dropping food coloring into the water tank. If you see the coloring seep into the bowl within 15 minutes, it means your toilet is leaky. Call in a plumber to repair the leak as soon as possible so you can prevent water waste.

While you’re looking for leaks and other plumbing problems around your home, check your HVAC system for water leaks. A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leaks in air conditioners. It can cause your equipment to malfunction and lead to extensive property damage. If the condensate line of your HVAC system has clogged or become damaged, contact Airmasters AC, Heat, Plumbing & Electrical at 817-506-4862 to schedule an appointment.

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