6 ways to prevent plumbing problems in your home

Prevent a fault before it occurs

When things go wrong with your household’s plumbing system, it places huge stress on your everyday functionality and on your wallet. That’s why we’ve asked our experts for their advice on how you can prevent plumbing issues from arising in your household.

Here are the 6 top tips from our nationwide network of plumbers to us to help prevent plumbing faults in your home.

1. Stop using corrosive chemical drain cleaners

Chemical cleaners are normally the go-to when a blockage presents itself in the home. However, chemical/ corrosive cleaners offer a temporary solution at best as they only create a small pathway through the blockage. Whilst the drain will be temporarily unblocked, the chemically drain cleaner won’t have completely cleared the drainpipe.

Drain cleaners with harsh chemicals promote corrosions of the inner lining of the drainpipes. Therefore, excessive use of chemical drain cleaners can ultimately damage the drainpipes and sewer system in the long run. A better alternative to those corrosive chemicals is combining baking soda with white vinegar and other eco-friendly solutions.

2. Don’t dump coffee grounds down the sink or drain

It may be easier to dump your French press down the sink with a load of hot water instead of popping it in the compost, but the reality is that coffee grounds, as well as several other foods, tend to clump together and cause blockages and if passed down the sink.

You may not notice it at first, but this can cause a huge issue with your plumbing system resulting in blocked drains that would require a plumber to fix.

3. Clean the end of your taps

The minerals, limescale and chemicals in water supplies can cause a build-up around the end of our taps over time. This could end up with you experiencing reduced water flow from your taps in your kitchen and bathroom. This sediment build-up can also affect the taste of the water.

Be sure to clean your taps every 6 months minimum to improve the water quality and flow. This will help reduce the risk of needing to replace your taps any time soon.

4. Don’t pour grease, oil, or fat down any drains

When you pour grease (or greasy material) down the drain it cools off and sticks to the inner lining of your drainpipes. Grease builds up slowly turning into lumps – attracting other foods and debris – this will ultimately lead to blocked, clogged-up drains that will require a plumber to fix.

5. Prepare for winter

When the temperature starts to drop make sure to disconnect garden hoses from outdoor taps, drain your hoses and put them away for the winter.

Any water left in these pipes can freeze, expand and cause damage to your plumbing system.

6. Know where your shut-off valves are

In case of an emergency such as flooding, you will need to know where the valve is to shut off your water supply. There are two taps: one inside your home and one outside. The internal tap is usually located under the kitchen sink, airing cupboard or under the floorboards near the front door.
Once you have located it, simply turn the valve to stop the water supply – preventing any further damage to your home.

According to our experts if these tips are incorporated and utilised you can prevent some of the most common plumbing issues our customers face, saving you a lot of stress and more importantly money.

We appreciate that with the current cost of living rising, knowledge is power, we are the experts when It comes to domestic appliances' and we have many more tips to help cut costs this summer.