7 Plumbing Tips for New Homeowners

*Last updated April 2, 2018.

Being a first-time homeowner is a huge responsibility in so many ways — one new responsibility you’ll inherit, in particular, will be taking care of your plumbing. Sure, you may have some experience dealing with a pesky, jammed garbage disposal or maybe you even worked to help family members patch up a leak or two, but having to deal with plumbing problems on your own and in your own home is an entirely different story.

Here’s the long and short of it: Owning a home is hard and dealing with plumbing issues can be overwhelming. However, with time comes knowledge, and we’re here to make that time a little bit easier for you.

7 Helpful Plumbing Tips for New Homeowners

  1. Locate Your Main Water Valve: Don’t learn the hard way. Knowing where the main water valve is will save you a lot of headaches. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with a flood situation.
  2. Fix Your Leaks: Not only can untreated leaks lead to mold, but they can also drain your wallet. With water damage, come large bills to pay.
  3. Use Your Disposal Wisely: If your kitchen is equipped with a garbage disposal, beware! Foods like celery and remains of banana peels and eggshells, for example, don’t belong down the drain.
  4. Don’t Pour Grease Down the Drain: When dinner requires you to cook with fats, greases or oils, keep them away from your drain during the clean-up process. Though it may go down smoothly, these products can really take a toll on your pipes.
  5. Stay Away from Drain Cleaner: Drano? More like Dra-NO! Clog-dissolving liquids are made up of chemicals that can eat away at your plumbing system and should only be used as a last resort. For a DIY solution, snake your drains regularly and utilize a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for minor clogs.
  6. Use a Plunger on Your Drains: Plungers aren’t just for toilets. Though you may want to own a separate one for minor drain clogs. In the event, your drains become clogged, use a plunger to force out the excess water and debris until water flows freely.
  7. Only Flush Toilet Paper Down the Drain: Never, EVER, flush anything other than toilet paper down the drain. Flushing household items puts you at risk for a blockage in your pipes; clogging your pump station; and/or causing a sewage backup for surrounding homes and businesses.
  8. Bonus Tip! If you have children at home, keep the lid closed to avoid bath toys and other small objects from accidentally slipping in!

Want to go the extra mile when it comes to the plumbing in your new home? Consider a plumbing inspection, so you’ll know exactly what’s going on within your walls. Inspecting the quality of your plumbing is essential to your home’s health. By taking this necessary measure, you can make sure that the water running in and out of your plumbing system will work in the manner and capacity it is supposed to. Making regular checks on the condition of your pipes, their pressure, and the bearings that bind them can be easy steps that will guarantee you smooth sailing down the pipeline.  (See what we did there?)

Here’s What’s to Expect From a Visual Plumbing Inspection

  • Inspection of the quality of your main valve. Usually located on the side of the house, the main valve is able to turn off the water for your entire house. If there is a problem with something in your plumbing system, this will act as the emergency brake to your home’s water supply so that severe water damage does not occur. It also gives you the necessary time to either fix the problem or contact a professional. This step should not be overlooked.
  • Inspection of your pipes and coils for cracks in the seams. This is an important preventive measure for halting more serious problems later down the road. Also, checking the bearings that join the pipes to the wall for rot or excessive build up is a great way to avoid future hiccups. This is especially true if your bearings were made from plastic. These require more attention because they have a shorter lifespan and must be replaced over time.

Taking the time to inspect the quality of your plumbing system gives you and the professional you hire the chance to replace worn out parts, rather than assess the damage of greater incidents like a burst pipe or wall detachments down the line. By following these simple suggestions, you can make sure your plumbing system continues to work to its full reliability and lifespan.

Should you find yourself facing a plumbing problem in your new home, Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter of Orange County, CA is always just a phone call away. We’re available 24 hours a day and provide emergency plumbing services. And, while you’re at it, check out some more of the benefits of video camera pipe inspections, too!