Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes.
Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
Water Heater
Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and read your owner’s manual.
At least once every three months, drain water from the tank. Over time sediment builds at the bottom of the heater, which can hamper performance, and draining a gallon or so helps remove the sediment.
You should also periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.
Toilets
Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later.
If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank.
If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.
Clogs
To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.
Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them.
If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.
Garbage Disposal
Using plenty of cold water when running it
Making sure you avoid overloading it
Never disposing of things like bones or corn husks
Never using a caustic drain opener.
The Garbage disposal it is important to run water while running plus for at least 20 seconds after you shut off to make sure it gets flushed totally down the drain
What People Say
Barb & Rod
Steve, I just wanted to thank you for the excellent work everyone did on our bathroom remodel. Be sure to...
Barb & Rod
4 lakes Plumbing
2016-01-22T21:43:24+00:00
Barb & Rod
Steve, I just wanted to thank you for the excellent work everyone did on our bathroom remodel. Be sure to let them know how pleased we are with their work. Everyone I dealt with was personable, professional, and more than competent at what they did.
Thank you for your excellent water heater installation and installation service. I’m very pleased with the outcome. Thank you guys...
Kim & Eric
4 lakes Plumbing
2016-01-22T21:44:15+00:00
Kim & Eric
Thank you for your excellent water heater installation and installation service. I’m very pleased with the outcome. Thank you guys so much for getting everything done before the wedding.
Thanks for the awesome work and for letting us rent the water softener for a few months. It was very...
Gail
4 lakes Plumbing
2016-01-22T21:45:33+00:00
Gail
Thanks for the awesome work and for letting us rent the water softener for a few months. It was very helpful to us and much appreciated. Have a great day!
4 Lakes came to our house at our earliest convenience and did such a professional and fabulous job and by...
Teresa & Jake Zimmermann
4 lakes Plumbing
2016-01-22T21:46:15+00:00
Teresa & Jake Zimmermann
4 Lakes came to our house at our earliest convenience and did such a professional and fabulous job and by installing Posi-Temp faucets alleviated our pain and put us back in business for our morning routines.
4 Lakes Plumbing is great! They installed a new shower fixture in our old claw foot tub and fixed the...
Kim and Brian
4 lakes Plumbing
2015-12-30T19:08:42+00:00
Kim and Brian
4 Lakes Plumbing is great! They installed a new shower fixture in our old claw foot tub and fixed the leak too. We love our new shower! Highly recommended. Thanks!