Now that the fall season is officially here – we have just a few more months before the winter arrives.
It might seem like the winter is forever away, but in terms of what needs to get done around the house, it is just around the corner.
The winter weather is tough on your home and especially on your plumbing system. Most of your plumbing system is buried in the ground outside so, it is vulnerable to the tree roots, soil environment, and weather temperatures.
However, there is also a substantial portion of your plumbing system that is inside of your home and is used on a daily basis by various members of your family.
This bit of your plumbing system includes the drains. Every appliances and fixture that has water coming to it, must have a drain to carry water away from it.
These drains are essential to the proper function and use of the system. If something goes wrong – you won’t be able to use any of the fixtures or appliances in your system.
Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to ensure that your plumbing system and drains stay in top working condition this winter:
- Don’t flush anything down the toilet other than toilet paper and human waste. It might seem like the perfect place to dispose of things like q-tips and baby wipes but, these items are very damaging to your plumbing system and will cause a clog.
- Don’t abuse the garbage disposal. This appliance can be very helpful for kitchen cleanup and even meal preparation. However, it should not be used as a trash can where every bit of food scraps can be sent down the drain. Instead, be very selective about how much and which materials you put down the garbage disposal.
- Have your sewer system inspected on an annual basis. Get your drains professionally cleaned regularly and, if you have a septic system make sure to have the tank pumped once every three years if not more often.
Keeping your plumbing system working well with proper maintenance is a great way to avoid a major failure during the winter season. These tips for maintenance are a great starting point.