Back to School Plumbing Tips

The leisurely days of summer are coming to an end, and soon your children will be returning to school. In a typical household, school days are busy days, with many members of the family hustling to get out of the house at the same time. Waking early in the morning, members of the household pile into the bathrooms for showers, tooth brushing and other preparatory activities. Once in the kitchen, everyone sits down for a loud and chaotic breakfast before quickly doing the dishes and running out the door.

This fast and dirty schedule can lead to plumbing problems. Getting your home’s plumbing ready for the coming school season can help your mornings go more smoothly when the time comes.

Perform Water Heater Maintenance

Good water heater performance is critical when multiple showers are taken in the morning. If your water heater is older, it may be inefficient and less able to perform in a way that meets your home’s needs. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep your water heater functioning properly.

• Avoid high water temperatures. The recommended setting for most water heaters is approximately 120 degrees. If your home’s water heater is turned to a higher temperature, this could shorten your water heater’s service life. Turn down your water heater’s temperature to the recommended setting to keep your water heater functioning properly.
• Drain the sediment. Draining the sediment out of your water heater can help keep it running efficiently and can ensure that your water heater is able to keep up with your home’s demand. If you’re not sure how to drain the sediment from your water heater, take a look at our previous post on the subject.
• Inspect the water heater. Check your water heater for signs of wear and tear. Look for problems like corrosion, rust, puddles of water, unexplained moisture and soot. If you see any evidence of problems with your water heater, contact a plumber for help before the school year begins.

Clear Slow Drains

Slow drains can make it difficult for many people in the household to use the bathrooms in the morning. Unclogging your shower drains and sink drains before the school year begins can shorten the length of time that people must spend in the bathroom when they’re getting ready in the morning. Clearing a slow drain is easy to do with a few household supplies.

To clear most slow drains, bend a clothes hanger into a hook shape and use the hook to remove the hair and debris just inside the drain. Once the hair is gone, use hot water, vinegar and soda to clear out any remaining sludge from the. This process is described more in-depth in our old post on the subject.

Clean Your Garbage Disposal

You’ll need your garbage disposal to be in tip-top condition when it’s time to clear the dishes at breakfast. To clean your garbage disposal, pour ice and salt into the unit and run the disposal to sharpen the blades and remove any debris from the inside of the disposal.

Contact Terry’s Plumbing

At Terry’s Plumbing, we help our customers maintain their plumbing throughout the summer as well as the school year. If you’re concerned that your home’s plumbing, water heater or garbage disposal simply isn’t up to the task of keeping your household running smoothly, now is the time to get professional help. Call us today for an appointment at 412-364-9114.