How You Can Prevent Flood Damage, Leaks and Clogs

You count on your home’s plumbing system to run smoothly, but unseen troubles can hide everywhere. Fortunately, you can avoid obstructions, leaks and water damage with a little routine care. Here’s how you can keep your water flowing and your stress in check.

1. Know What Not to Put in the Drain

A lot of sinks in the kitchen may be equipped with a garbage disposal, but certain food items still rather than rinsed down the drain, including:

• Grease from cooking
• Tough foods like corn cobs and stalks of celery
• Old food like boiled rice or coffee grounds
• Solid objects like fruit pits and bones
• Non-food items. Silverware and similar items can fall into the disposal and damage something when you turn it on.

2. Understand What Shouldn’t Be Flushed

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

• Baby wipes
• Paper towels
• Soft cotton
• Women’s hygiene products
• Diapers
• Floss
• Expired medication

3. Employ Mesh Strainers

An easy method to lower the risk of a clog is to place drain strainers over your laundry, kitchen and bathroom drains. They catch hair, bits of soap, old toothpaste and other debris as water enters the drain. these strainers to keep your drains running smoothly.

4. Find the Main Shutoff Valve

Being aware of your plumbing system means knowing how to find your main water shutoff valve. This valve controls water entering your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to turn off this valve before traveling 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 in the ground.

5. Get a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump helps prevent floods, particularly in regions prone to high annual rainfall. This device removes water that accumulates in the sump basin, generally installed in the floor of your basement, and drains it away from the house. For homeowners who already have a sump pump, check it every now and then by dumping some water into the pit. If the pump activates and the pit drains, you’re all set. If it isn’t draining properly, you have time to call a professional to repair the pump before the next big storm.

6. Install Flood Flood Alarms

Similar to how smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms help prevent water damage. These wired or battery-operated devices detect water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, sounding an alarm to inform you. For further protection, include smart flood alarms into your home security system. This sends a notification on your phone after water has been detected, allowing you to address leaks before they cause significant damage.

7. Install a Backflow Valve

Another helpful plumbing tip is to put in a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to prevent sewage from backing up into their homes during heavy rainfall. Professionals can install this useful defense against sewage backflow.

Learn to Recognize and Avoid Leaks

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 is out of sight, so leaks often go unseen until they cause major problems. Regularly checking for leaks can help you catch issues early. Here’s how:

• Check under the sink for signs of standing water, wood decay or mold.
• Keep an eye out for small leaks in your toilet by putting in a few drops of dye to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, you have a leak.
• Check around and behind your plumbing appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaking.
• Have a professional perform a water meter test.
  • First, close off all water in your home via the main water lines.
  • Then, walk outside to check the water meter. Verify the reading again in two hours, being careful not to use any water before the test is done.
  • If the reading changes, it means there’s a leak somewhere.

Keep Your Pipes from Freezing

In colder climates, doing your part to protect vulnerable pipes is crucial to prevent freezing and bursting. Here is what you can do:

• Wrap the pipes in insulation in unheated areas like the basement, garage or attic with insulating foam or heating tape.
• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets during the winter to stop ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep under-sink cabinet doors open during cold spells to encourage airflow around the pipes.

Partner with a Trusted Plumber

While you can carry out many preventive steps yourself to help prevent clogs, leaks and flood damage, sometimes it takes a professional touch to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where can help. 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 your level of service by next year, we will do everything we can to make it right. This commitment shows how we deliver total comfort and peace of mind in your life. For Expert plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today