Part of owning a home or commercial space includes understanding your plumbing system on a basic level — knowing when to maintain, when to repair, and when to call a pro. Sometimes it’s a crash course when something big goes wrong. Hopefully it’s a slower process, by reading tips like these. Not all of them apply to every situation, but a little knowledge goes a long way to preserving the value of your property.
General Plumbing Wisdom
- Only flush the 3 P’s. Toilets are designed to handle Pee, Poop, and Toilet Paper. Nothing else. Not paper towels, not sanitary products, not "flushable" wipes.
- Know when to call it. DIY is great, to a point. If you’re in over your head, don’t be embarrassed to call a licensed plumber.
- Verify EPA-certified fixtures. If you’re buying online faucets, look for UPC/NSF/ANSI certifications. Cheap fixtures often aren’t lead-free as claimed.
- Check rarely-used rooms. Run faucets and drains in guest baths and basement sinks regularly. Slow leaks in unused rooms become big problems.
- Use the right materials. Pipe, glue, solder, fittings — they all need to match the water, waste, or gas you’re running through them.
- Winterize before freezing weather. The best time to inspect crawl space pipes is mid-summer when it’s cool and dry, making leaks visible.
- Know your main shut-off location. In an emergency, every minute matters. Test the valve once a year.
- Be skeptical of "free advice." Code-compliance varies by state and city. Free YouTube tutorials don’t answer to anyone.
- Avoid harsh chemical drain cleaners. They corrode older pipes and pollute local waters. Pros use mechanical augers and hydro-jetting for a reason.
- Be picky about your plumber. Find a trusted licensed pro before you have a plumbing emergency, not during.
Essential Maintenance Tips
- Watch what goes down the drain. A garbage disposal isn’t a commercial grinder. Anything sticky, oily, or stringy at room temperature will eventually congeal and clog.
- Check for leaks regularly. Examine your water heater, faucets, drain lines under sinks, and any visible joint where water, drains, or gas connect.
- Run all faucets periodically. If a valve gets harder to operate, note it. Slow flow rates can signal trouble upstream.
- Stay current on manufacturer warranties. Skip recommended service intervals or use unauthorized cleaners and you can void coverage.
- Run unused fixtures. Periodically flush toilets and run water down rarely-used drains. Drying seals leak; dry traps let sewer gas in.
- Listen for water sounds. Turn off the TV, the music, the phone. Walk around. Hissing, dripping, or running sounds often signal hidden leaks.
- Inspect supply hoses. Cracks, bulges, or wear on the hoses behind your washer, dishwasher, and ice maker mean replacement time.
- Check caulking. Around toilets, tubs, and tile enclosures, intact caulk is critical for keeping water in the right places.
Tips for Homeowners
- Build a basic plumbing toolkit. Pipe wrenches, crescent wrenches, a power drill, plumber’s tape, and a hacksaw cover most household plumbing chores. A water key for your meter can save thousands.
- Know your home’s history. Age, prior renovations, sewer scope videos, repair receipts. Future plumbing decisions get easier with context.
- Decide your DIY comfort zone. Some jobs are bandaid-on-finger. Others need a pro’s broken-arm setting.
- Know how to shut off water at every fixture. Each toilet, faucet, dishwasher, and washing machine should have an angle stop.
- Consider a leak detection system. Audible alarms, Wi-Fi alerts, and automatic shut-off systems can save tens of thousands. Some insurance companies offer discounts.
- Learn to safely shut off your water heater. Both the gas/power supply and the water supply.
- Learn to shut off gas at the meter. A simple skill that matters in an emergency.
- Replace supply hoses with new appliances. New appliances + old hoses = avoidable failures.
- Use drain grates and screens. Keep oils, grease, coffee grounds, and food scraps out of your drains.
- Toilet plungers are for toilets only. Using one on a sink can crack the trap or separate drain segments.
- Don’t over-tighten. Cranking down on fittings strips threads and breaks bolts. Hand-tight plus a quarter turn is usually enough.
- Buy reputable brands. Moen, Delta, Grohe, Kohler, American Standard, Bradford White, Navien — they have track records of quality and warranty support.
Repair Tips
- Clean aerators and showerheads first. Weird flow patterns often resolve with a vinegar soak and a brush.
- Don’t toss the disposal hex wrench. That oddly-shaped tool under the sink resets a jammed garbage disposal.
- Document fixture details. When you replace anything, record the manufacturer, product line, part number, finish color, and year — future repairs get easier.
- Address leaks fast. Water damage is among the most expensive household repairs. Drips, stains, mold, and bubbled paint all signal trouble.
- Don’t fully drain a hot water heater. Thermal shock from refilling cold can damage internal components.
- Clean tub and sink drains routinely. Hair and soap scum at the drain stopper is much easier to remove than a clog ten feet down.
- Fix running toilets immediately. A loose flapper can waste 200 gallons a day.
- Don’t reuse a wax ring. Wax rings are cheap. New flooring is not.
- Plan for the worst case. If you’re not ready to handle a Saturday-night plumbing emergency, call a pro before you start.
- Verify advice sources. Internet "expertise" and friend-of-a-friend stories often skip the gory details.
Outdoor Plumbing Tips
- Know your sewer system. Septic vs. sewer vs. shared sewer changes who’s responsible for what.
- Locate your cleanouts. Side sewer and stormwater cleanouts make drain cleaning faster and cheaper.
- Clean gutters and sweep regularly. Anything entering a storm drain ends up unfiltered in local creeks and Puget Sound.
- Wrap exposed pipes. Then check periodically for rodent damage and signs of leaks.
- Inspect outdoor faucets. They should open and close firmly without being hard to turn.
- Winterize outdoor kitchens. Outdoor drains attract dust, pollen, and critters faster than indoor ones.
- Identify pump-boosted waste lines. If your property’s waste relies on a pump, schedule regular service to prevent failure.
Get Professional Results
Now you have a working plumbing checklist. When you find you need a licensed professional team to keep your plumbing in its best working order, give Stollwerck Plumbing & Sewer a call at 425-374-3909.