Home Maintenance Tips

Prevent water damage to your home

Ensure that you know where your main and individual fixture shut off valves are in your home to prevent flooding.
Disconnect all hoses from outdoor frost free hose bibs before winter to prevent freezing.

Kitchen and bathroom

Install a pressure balancing valve to prevent scalding in the shower due to simultaneous usage of water appliances.
Garburator usage – run water 30 seconds after using your garburator
To fix a foul smell coming from your garburator: Place ice cubes and lemon peels in your disposer and run for 30 seconds. Then add some dishwashing liquid and run for another 30 seconds. Finish with a 30 second rinse of cold water to rinse away any remaining debris.

Water usage and conservation

Toilets consume more than 30% of you total water usage. Installation of a new toilet flapper and fill valve will keep your toilet running efficiently.
For new home construction or renovations consider the low flow dual flush toilet which uses 20% less water per flush.
A dripping faucet can waste as much as 100 gallons of water each day. Repair the faucet to save water and reduce your water bill.

Septic tank and field

Have your tank inspected and pumped out a minimum of once every 3 or 4 years.
Do not dispose of harmful material into your septic tank, such as, cooking fat, coffee grounds or paper towels. These items do not easily decompose in the septic tank.
Do not add excessive amounts of bleach to your system.
Do not build or park vehicles on top of your septic field.
Use water saving fixtures.
Do not use a garburator.

Please note: We hope we have provided some useful information. These tips and hints are only suggestions, and we recommend you contact a licensed plumber.