8 Effective Ways to Prevent Common Plumbing Issues

If you live in Long Island, New York, you may be all too familiar with flash floods and unexpected heavy downpours. The recent torrential rains^[a] not only brought traffic to a halt but also caused some homes to experience sewer backups, overflows, and flooding in basements or lower levels. But imagine what disaster could have happened if such events occurred while your gutters and downspouts were already clogged!

Apart from such contingencies, even the most common plumbing issues can be the worst nightmare for residents. Plumbing problems like a sudden pipe burst, clogged pipes, and sewer backups cause a great deal of inconvenience. Additionally, prolonged plumbing issues are fully capable of damaging your property and causing a variety of health issues.

Plumbing is undoubtedly one of the most important systems that need to function properly at all times. Although it’s inevitable to call professional plumbers in case of an emergency, there are many ways to avoid a plumbing disaster in the first place. Here are some effective ways to prevent common plumbing issues in your Long Island home:

1. Schedule Regular Inspections and Maintenance

Just as you need regular checkups to ensure that you stay on top of your health, your Long Island home’s plumbing system needs regular inspections to prevent issues and costly repairs down the road. Search for the keyword Long Island plumbers near me online and schedule regular plumbing inspections.

An experienced plumber will thoroughly inspect your pipes, faucets, gutters, drains, and sewage lines to identify any potential plumbing issues before they become a serious problem. They can detect plumbing issues that may not be visible to the naked eye. They will look for leaks, corrosion, or other signs of deterioration in the plumbing system. This will help you keep your home’s plumbing system in top shape and avoid any plumbing disasters in the long run.

2. Hire Professional Services for Annual or Bi-Annual Deep Cleaning

If you’re planning a spring cleaning or a pre-winter deep cleaning, don’t forget to add sewerage cleaning to your list! Hire professionals for an annual or bi-annual deep cleaning of the entire sewerage system of your house instead of calling them in an emergency. Professional cleaning services ensure the entire sewerage system is clean and unclogged. They also help you identify any leakages in the pipes and drains.

3. Insulate Your Exposed Pipes during Extreme Temperatures

Winters in Long Island can be pretty harsh, and temperatures frequently drop below freezing points. During extreme temperature drops in winter, the water inside the pipes starts to freeze. At a certain temperature, the water inside begins to expand and causes the pipes or joints to burst. To avoid this situation, it’s best to insulate your pipes that are exposed to external temperatures. Insulated pipes help regulate water temperature and prevent it from losing heat.

4. Inspect Pipes and Joints for Leakage

Water leaks may seem like benign problems, but they can be disastrous for both your home’s structural integrity and your health if you don’t address them promptly. Prolonged water leakage not only widens the cracks inside the pipes, but the leaking water also results in the creation of mold and may damage your home’s frame, foundation, and supportive beams. Regularly inspect your pipes and joints for leakage to avoid any unwanted situations in the long run and prevent the growth of bacteria around the site of leakage. Instead of encountering a plumbing disaster, try to inspect and fix any minor leakage on the spot.

5. Check Water Pressure

Low water pressure can cause a great deal of inconvenience and make it difficult to perform your everyday tasks. Low water pressure can be a sign of leaks or clogging in the water pipes. Minerals and debris keep piling up in the pipes, especially around joints and turns. Clogged pipes restrict water flow over time and cause low pressure. Moreover, if a shut-off valve isn’t fully open, it can also cause low water pressure.

High water pressure strains your plumbing system and can damage plumbing fixtures and appliances. It can even cause leaks and pipe bursts. High water pressure mostly occurs due to a malfunctioning water pressure regulator or a closed-off bypass valve.

Regularly check the water pressure to avoid plumbing issues. If you notice a change in water pressure, check for clogs in your pipes. Ensure your water pressure regulator is functioning. Check the water shut-off valve and any bypass valves and make sure they’re properly open.

6. Prevent Clogging in Drains

Most clogging issues in drains happen in the kitchen and bathrooms. To prevent your drains from clogging, it’s important to consider what causes clogging. The leftover food particles, oil or other greasy substances, plastic pieces, coins, small metal elements, etc., that don’t dissolve on their own are the primary causes of clogged pipes and drains. Use drain strainers to prevent these substances from running down the pipes. In addition, don’t dispose of oil and greasy elements directly into the drain. Instead, put them in a plastic bag and throw them in the trash bin.

7. Avoid Putting Weight on Pipes

Water or sewerage pipes are connected through joints. When more weight is placed on the pipes than they can support, the pipes either crack or become loose from the joints, resulting in a pipe burst or leakage. To avoid a plumbing emergency, try to avoid putting weight on water pipes and keep them from bending.

8. Use Home Remedies Occasionally to Clear Drains

Numerous home remedies are available over the internet to open clogged drains and clean them effectively. Do some research on the internet and try DIY drain-opening formulas. Pour boiling water down drains once a week to melt down any grease in the pipes. Mix baking soda with vinegar and pour it down the kitchen sink to open clogged drains.

Final Thoughts

An abrupt plumbing issue has the potential to wreak havoc inside your home. Before you find yourself in a plumbing emergency, take the above-mentioned precautionary measures to keep the plumbing system running smoothly. We hope the list above will assist you in maintaining the cleanliness of your pipes and drains regularly and help you avoid any unwelcoming situations.