Home/Helpful Info/ General Home Plumbing Tips

General Home Plumbing Tips | Glendale Plumber | Glendora Plumbing Artices, Pasadena

General Home Plumbing Tips

Check your sump pump to make sure it's in working order before the heavy spring rains begin. Watch for build-up of sand or other debris in the sump pit. This can jam the pump and burn out its motor. Also, make sure the pump's discharge pipe is not clogged. Hook up a garden hose to the connection point. If water runs through the other end, the pipe is okay.

Consider getting a battery-operated back-up sump pump if your pump has been overloaded in the past from heavy rains.

Keep rain gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and other debris. Water overflowing from blocked gutters collects around your home's foundation and seeps into your basement.

If your home is equipped with a flood control device such as an ejector pump, have it checked by your plumbing contractor to make sure it is working properly before the heavy spring rains.

If there are no appliances in your home that require a constant water supply, make sure you shut off your water supply when you leave on vacation.

To prevent sewer gases from backing up into your home through your basement floor drain, periodically pour a bucket of water down the drain to keep the trap seal full.

Lawn sprinklers often spring leaks over the winter. If puddles form on your lawn, you probably have seepage in some of the lines.

Septic tanks should be inspected and pumped every three to five years to help prevent costly replacement of the filter field. If your drain field appears flooded with water on the surface of the ground or you have extremely green lawn in a particular area, check for dripping faucets or leaky toilets before agreeing to costly repairs. Often a minor adjustment will fix your problem.

Don't use excessive amounts of detergents, bleach or chemicals that may kill the natural bacteria in your septic system.

Use biodegradable soaps and detergents.

To prevent excessive watering of your lawn in the summertime, purchase an inexpensive spring-loaded timer which attaches directly to your outside faucet. This will prevent over watering in case you forget to shut off the sprinkler.

Check your water meter during a period of time when no water is being used. Make a note of the meter reading and check it eight to 10 hours later. If the meter has moved, there is an indication that you may have an undetected water leak, which should be corrected. use your toilet as a wastebasket. Do not flush items that can be placed in a trash container.