Preventative Plumbing Maintenance Tips

When it comes to plumbing, preventative maintenance goes a long way. It is much easier and less costly to learn preventative maintenance rather than emergency plumbing. These seven steps below are featured to help you get the best and safest use from your water reliant appliances.

1. Check the temperature setting on your water heater. It should be set no higher than 120 degrees to prevent scalding and reduce energy use. A temperature hotter than 120 degrees can lead to scalding burns in an instant.

2. Carefully drain several gallons of water from your water heater's tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment. Sediment reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater. Check your water heater manufacturer‘s website for specific instructions concerning your make and model.

3. Replace hoses on your water heater showing signs of weakness or any hoses that are older than ten years. Use stainless steel hoses wherever possible. They are more reliable and less prone to bursting than other types.

4. Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old. (The first four numbers of the serial number represent the month and year it was made.) Newer water heaters are more energy efficient. Consider a tankless water heater which saves on water and energy costs.

5. Check your dishwasher, washing machine, and ice maker's supply hoses for bulges or leaks.

6. Clean out dryer lint trap after every use and place a wire trap or a piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose that drains the washer.

7. Never store flammables around your water heater. Federal safety officials estimate that thousands of fires and explosions result from flammable liquids being stored near the water heater each year. The vapors can accumulate and become ignited by the pilot light.

Contact Chicago area Morning Noon and Night Plumbing at 773-880-0072 for additional plumbing tips and service for any of your plumbing issues.

Water and Energy Conservation Tips From Morning Noon And Night Plumbing

• Does your shower head need to be replaced? Here are a few steps that you should take to see if your in need of a more efficient replacement. You will need a bucket and a clock. 

1. Put the bucket under your showerhead.
2. Turn the shower on to the same pressure you would typically use during your shower.
3. Time how long it takes for the water to reach the one-gallon mark. If it takes fewer than 30 seconds then a more efficient showerhead would be beneficial. You could save 7.5 gallons of water per minute by replacing your showerhead!

• Consider replacing your current water heater with a tankless version. Rather than running constantly to store hot water like a traditional water heater, tankless water heaters produce 2 to 5 gallons of hot water per minute on demand. 

• Rather than running the tap until it gets cold, store water in your fridge. This cuts down on water waste. 

• A leaky faucet that drips once per second can waste more than 8 gallons a day. That's 3,000 gallons per year! Be sure to have all leaky faucets looked at by a professional. 

• Water pressure above 60 pounds per square inch in your home is harmful to your plumbing system and causes excessive water usage. Contact your local water company to find out what the water pressure is on your street. If it exceeds 60 pounds, consider installing a pressure reducing valve that limits the water pressure within your home.

• When shopping for a new washing machine or dishwasher, compare ratings among Energy Star models, especially those with adjustable load size and cycle settings. These can save up to 20 gallons of water per load, and energy, too. 

Contact Chicago area Morning Noon and Night Plumbing at 773-880-0072 for a thorough inspection, repair, or installation of your energy efficient appliance.