You have so many things to stay on top of when it comes to taking care of your Cleveland, TN, home that it can be a little overwhelming. However, that doesn’t mean you can slack on keeping up with plumbing maintenance and repairs, especially if you want to save yourself from a massive repair bill down the line. The good news is, knowing a few of the basics about plumbing maintenance makes that a lot easier. As long as you understand how to take care of your plumbing and have a reliable local plumber who can help you with repairs as needed, you’ve got everything you need.

Main Shutoff Valve

Whenever you move to a new home, one of the first things you should do is locate the main water shutoff valve. Every home has a valve designed to cut the supply of water to the home, which can prevent severe water damage while you wait for a local plumber to arrive at your home.

The biggest concern in terms of knowing the location of your shutoff valve is leaks. When there’s a leak in your home, shutting off your water main is the only thing you can do to stop the flow of water. While some leaks aren’t too bad in terms of their potential for structural damage and increasing your water bill, some leaks can cost you thousands of dollars in mere hours.

If you’re having trouble finding the water shutoff valve at your Cleveland, TN, home, consider having a local plumber show you where it is and how to use it. Even if you have to spend money hiring a plumber for such a small task, knowing how to shut your water off could save you thousands down the line.

Drain Treatment

Some of the things homeowners most commonly do wrong involve the drainage system. While the things you put in your drains may not seem like a huge deal, there are lots of things that are known to cause clogs and ruin pipes.

For starters, you need to be careful about what you’re putting down your drains. If you don’t want to call a local plumber to clean your drains every few months, be mindful of what you’re putting in them. For kitchen sinks, you should put as much food as possible in the garbage even if you have a garbage disposal. Bathroom sinks and shower drains can be protected with a drain grate. And if you’ve been using so-called flushable wipes for a long time, stopping now could save you a lot of money.

Another thing that many homeowners don’t think about is what they use to unclog drains. While chemical cleaners like Drano are the most popular by name, they’re also highly ineffective and can cause serious damage to your pipes. If you ask any local plumber about the best drain cleaner to use in your home, they’ll recommend enzyme-based cleaners that eat away at organic material without damaging your pipes.

Winter Preparation

If you own a car, you understand the importance of making sure things are equipped to handle the seasons as they change. If you want to prevent major plumbing problems and make things a little easier on yourself, you should prepare the plumbing system in your Cleveland, TN, home for each approaching winter.

The biggest thing you need to focus on when it comes to winter plumbing preparation is making sure your pipes aren’t going to freeze. The best way to do this is to have a local plumber add some insulation to areas where pipes are improperly insulated, but you can simply use heat tape or cable if you have somewhere to plug it in.

Once you’ve made sure all potentially vulnerable pipes are accounted for, there’s one last thing you need to keep from freezing: Your hose bib. The hose bib is the little piece you connect a hose to, which means they’re always located outside. Each winter, you should have a local plumber turn off water to your hose bib and drain any excess water out. If you want to be extra careful, you can install a hose bib cover to keep it from freezing.

Routine Maintenance

While plumbing isn’t quite like other parts of your Cleveland, TN, home in terms of necessary routine maintenance, there’s still a lot to do. At least once or twice a year, you should have a local plumber do some basic maintenance on your plumbing system to ensure it’s in good shape.

One of the first steps to plumbing maintenance is making sure there aren’t any small problems lurking, so your plumber will check for and fix leaks in pipes and fixtures. Plumbing maintenance also involves making sure all the drains are working properly, which means testing for slow drainage and unclogging any drains that are slow. Once all the small stuff has been checked and fixed, you can move onto the additional maintenance.

If you’ve been using the same showerhead for a long time, have a local plumber clean it to remove some of the sediment. This gives you improved water pressure and ensures you aren’t getting any dirt and grime in your water. If you have a septic tank for your home, you should also have that inspected every time a professional comes to your home for maintenance.

The Help You Need

Every Cleveland, TN, homeowner should have basic knowledge of their plumbing system, even if it is just a few simple things. However, you also need to make sure you have a good local plumber on your side.

When you need somebody to help you take excellent care of your plumbing system year-round, Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air is here to help. Whether you need small repairs done or you simply need somebody to make sure everything is clean and running smoothly, we have you covered. Call Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air at (423) 616-1025 today to find out more.