A new year is soon to arrive, and that means it is time to get your house in order. If you’re looking to take better care of your home’s plumbing, drainage, and water use this year, we’re here to help with a few suggestions to keep an eye on throughout the winter and all year ‘round. It takes a bit of effort and consistency, but you’ll be glad you picked up these new habits and made fixes and checks to avoid a costly emergency or damage.
For 100% guaranteed satisfaction for plumbing and drain cleaning services, call The Super Plumber - Plumbing and Drain Services serving municipalities on Vancouver Island, including Duncan, Nanaimo, Victoria, Cowichan, and Ladysmith. We offer regular rates from 8 am to 8 pm six days a week. We provide convenient, on-time appointments that work around your schedule, plus emergency services whenever you need us!
Take Better Care of Your Drains
The drains in your kitchen and bathroom are easy to take care of, but you need to be consistent.
For the kitchen, don’t pour grease or fats down the sink. Pour these into a spare can to solidify, then toss the solid materials away. Use a sieve that has a fine mesh to catch the majority of particles; these can be purchased at the dollar store. Occasionally pour a whole kettle or pot of boiling hot water down the sink to help move things along.
For the bathroom, use a drain catcher in the shower or tub to catch excess hair and soap slivers. Don’t flush anything down the toilet other than waste or tissue. Keep an eye on young children and toddlers playing in the washroom to ensure they don’t involve flushing a toy as part of their play. As above, occasionally pour boiling water down the drains.
For light clogs, a solution of baking soda and vinegar can help clear pipes. But for tougher jobs that require more help, we offer drain snaking and repair services to help get things moving again.
Look Out for Leaks
Improving water usage is important. In addition to regular use, small leaks can waste a lot of water over time. Several thousand gallons of water can be wasted annually from leaks. The EPA estimates that a single home can waste 90 gallons in a single day or 33,000 gallons per year!
Regularly check your pipes and fixtures for leaks around the whole house. Replace older parts like faucets and showerheads so they’re in tight and efficient working order. Running toilets need to be fixed, too, because they’re a major source of wasted water.
Call us in to fix any minor or major leaks or perform regular preventative maintenance to reduce the risk of an emergency like a breakage or flooding. Water damage is a serious cost and health concern. Mold can grow as a result of the smallest leaks and become a major problem that is not only expensive to fix but can cause health problems, especially for those with weaker immune systems like children.
Be More Efficient with Water Heating
The water heater is a major energy (and money) consumer, and an inefficient heater is even more so. We can check on the status of your heater and/or install a new one to keep the temperature consistent, at a proper setting to meet safety regulations, and running nicely. Note that you don’t want to set the temperature too low because dangerous bacteria can grow. We’ll also ensure you have a heater that suits the size of your home and your usage.
Check that your heater is providing accurate temperature readings with your hot water temperature by using a thermometer. If the reading is off, you’ll want to have this adjusted to make sure it’s not over- or under-heating your home’s water supply.
Keep Your Pipes Warm During the Winter
Insulate your pipes to keep them warm during the winter. The cold can cause cracks and leaks, and it could potentially cause a burst pipe and flooding. If your pipes break and are flooding your home, turn off your water supply immediately. Give us a call any time of day or night for emergency plumbing services. If the amount of water is significant, turn off your power as well, to prevent the risk of electric shock.
Insulate pipes that are found in cold places of the home like unheated attics, basements, exterior walls, etc. You can purchase pipe wrap insulation made of flexible foam, bubble film, foam-and-foil, foil-backed natural cotton, or insulating rubber tape.
Eco-Friendly Appliances & Fixtures
Help save money and the planet by installing energy efficient appliances in your home. Low flow toilets have improved past the original 90s models that ended up using more than they supposedly saved. A dual-flush option is a safe choice that offers control. Dishwashers and washing machines with Energy Star ratings and even wireless smart controls offer near-futuristic options to help save energy, water, and time.
Look for low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. They reduce the amount of water you’re using and there is no difference in discernable water pressure, so you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing anything. In addition to installing appliances and fixtures, using less water when you brush your teeth, shower, and wash the dishes can really add up over a year.
These are just a few things you can commit to doing for your home and family. A lot of money can be saved by making small fixes and adjustments over time.
For residents of Vancouver Island we offer lots of plumbing services that can get your home running at peak condition, plus take care of any repairs 365 days a year! Our services are guaranteed: if you’re not satisfied for any reason, we will redo the repair for free. Call for help with drains, gas fittings, fixtures, sewers and septic, water heaters, pumps, water treatment, and more. For larger jobs and purchases, we offer several financing options. Check out the current coupons we have on our homepage.
