How to Prevent Leaking, Flooding and Clogs

You expect your home’s plumbing to run smoothly, but potential problems can hide around every corner. Luckily, you can prevent clogs, leaks and floods with a little preventive maintenance. Here’s how to keep your water flowing and your stress levels low.

1. Know What Not to Put in the Drain

Many kitchen sinks may be outfitted with a garbage disposal, but certain food items still belong in the trash can or compost heap dumped into the drain, like:

• Cooking grease
• Fibrous foods like corn husks and celery stalks
• Old food like cooked rice or coffee grounds
• Tough pieces of food such as fruit pits and animal bones
• Non-food items. Silverware and similar items may end up in the disposal and cause damage when you turn it on.

2. Know What Not to Flush

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

• Baby wipes
• Paper towels
• Cotton balls and swabs
• Feminine hygiene products
• Diapers
• Dental floss
• Expired medication

3. Use Mesh Strainers

A simple way to lower the risk of clogs is to place mesh strainers over your kitchen sinks and shower drains. They catch hair, pieces of soap, old toothpaste and other debris as water flows down the drain. Regularly clean these strainers to keep your drains running smoothly.

4. Know Where the Main Shutoff Valve Is Located

Being familiar with your plumbing system means knowing the location of your main water shutoff valve. This valve controls water flowing into your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to shut off this valve before leaving town 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 buried underground.

5. Invest in a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump will go a long way toward preventing floods, particularly in climates prone to heavy rainfall. This device removes water that accumulates in the sump basin, generally installed in the floor of your basement, and expels it away from the house. For homes that already have a sump pump, test it regularly by dumping some water into the pit. As long as 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 it before another rainstorm.

6. Install Flood Flood Alarms

Similar to how smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms are useful for preventing water damage. These hardwired or battery-operated devices detect water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, sounding an alarm to notify you. For further protection, integrate smart flood alarms into your home security system. This sends a notification on your phone after water has been detected, enabling you to address leaks before it leads to significant damage.

7. Put in a Backflow Valve

Many plumbers recommend you install a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to stop sewage from backing up into their homes after heavy rainfall. Professionals can install this strong layer of protection against sewage backflow.

Find and Prevent 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 system is hidden, so leaks often go unnoticed 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 rot or mold growth.
• Be on the lookout for slow leaks in the toilets by putting in some drops of food coloring to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, you’ve got a leak.
• Inspect around and behind your plumbing appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaking.
• Conduct a water meter test.
  • To start, turn off all water in your home via the main water lines.
  • Then, go outside to read the water meter. Verify the reading again after two hours, and make sure not to use any water before the second reading.
  • If the reading is different, you know there’s a leak somewhere.

Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

In colder climates, protecting the plumbing pipes is vital if you want to minimize the risk of freezing and bursting. Here is what you can do:

• Insulate pipes in unfinished spaces like the basement, garage or attic with foam tubing or heating tape.
• Disconnect garden hoses from their spigots throughout the winter to stop ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during frigid weather to keep warm air circulating around the pipes.

Partner with a Trusted Plumber

While you can implement these and other preventive steps on your own to minimize the risk of clogs, leaks and flooding, it’s never a bad idea to have an experienced plumber to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where can help. We work with some of the best plumbers offering residential plumbing support from coast to coast with service backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely thrilled with your level of service after one year, we will do whatever it takes to make it right. This industry-leading dedication shows how we deliver total comfort and peace of mind in your life. For some of the best plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today