Security Plumbing Resources
Drains:
- Place a strainer over kitchen and bathroom drains if
they do not already have one; this will prevent hair, pieces
of soap, and other debris from clogging drains. Clean the
strainer as needed.
- Unclog a drain mechanically rather than chemically when possible.
- Use
chemical drain cleaners sparingly, especially if your pipes or
traps are brass, steel, or cast-iron; some chemicals
may corrode metal pipes. Try this
instead: pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down your
drain every month.
- The drains in showers and in bathroom sinks
typically need extra care; pour two or three gallons of boiling
water down each bathroom drain about
once a month to clear out hair and greasy particles.
- Every week or two remove
sink and tub pop-up stoppers and rinse them off.
- Every three or
four months remove the overflow plate on the tub.
- Then pull up
the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm.
- Remove
accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.
- If your shower drain is
plugged up try a plunger first. If the plunger doesn't unplug
the drain, insert a plumber's helper ("snake")
down the drain.
- Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint trap on your washing
machine discharge hose.
Faucets:
- Repair or replace a leaky
faucet promptly.
- Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or
leaks. Even a slow leak can waste as much as 15 or 20 gallons
of water a day. But a leak not only
wastes
water;
it can eventually ruin your faucet or even your cabinets and floors.
- Leaky
faucets are ordinarily caused by seals which are dirty or worn.
You may either clean or replace the worn parts, or you may want to
install a new faucet.
Hoses:
- Switch all hoses to steel braided hoses
- Don’t leave hot
water in kitchen or shower hoses. The hoses will last longer
if you run cold water through
them after using hot water.
- Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint
trap on your washing machine discharge hose.
- Put new washers
in all your hoses twice a year.
Stop High Water Bills:
- Check faucets for dripping water. Fix a leaky faucet promptly.
Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks.
- Periodically
check your toilets for leaks:
-Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank - not the bowl. A couple
of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.
-Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl
has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper
and valve seat may need to be replaced.
- Check for underground leaks or undetected
leaks in the home:
-Turn off the main water valve inside your home and then go outside and
check your water meter. If it is still turning you may have an
underground leak.
-Alternatively, write down the numbers on your water meter at the beginning
of a period when your home is going to be unoccupied for a few
hours. Check the meter when you return; if the numbers have changed, they may
be
a leak somewhere
inside the home.
Gas Water Heaters:
Your water heater consumes energy! If your water heater is larger
than you need, you may be spending more money on gas than necessary.
But of course if your water heater is too small, you may run
out of hot water during peak use periods.
The following chart will help you to determine the size of
the water heater you need in your home. Simply estimate how many
gallons of hot water you will need during the course of the hour
when there is maximum demand for hot water in your ho
use.
If your water heater displays a ASHRAE / EIS rating of 90,
it is energy-efficient and you do not need additional
insulation.
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