Avoid Pricey Repairs – Get Your Drains Cleaned Regularly

If you’re like most people, you like to save money by handling as much of the repairs and maintenance work around your house as you can. The Internet is your Mr. Fix-It wingman! However, there are two areas you really shouldn’t mess with: water and electricity. Mistakes with water and electricity can be costly and dangerous. Some things you can DIY, and some things require a professional touch. Drain Cleaning is one of the latter.

The good news is, you can absolutely maintain your drains on your own. Other than drain screens (which are a necessity even if you have a disposal) you can avoid clogged drains by doing three simple things on a regular basis. First, pour a kettle-full of boiling water down your sink once a week, which will help dissolve grease and soap scum.

Second, every few months toss a handful of baking soda down the drain with the hot water. Not only does this help keep things clean, but it also keeps your sink smelling fresh. Lastly, pour 1-2 cups of plain old vinegar down the drain 3-4 times a year. After 20-30 minutes, flush your drain with hot tap water. Vinegar is Mother Nature’s magic cleaner – it is safe and effective. Over time, the benefits of regular drain cleaning will pay you in you time and money.

Over the years, however, home maintenance won’t quite be enough, so it is recommended that you seek outdrain cleaning and plumbing services in your area and schedule semi-regular cleaning. Without regular drain cleaning, your pipes are susceptible to costly damage, and you can wind up shelling out much more money than you need to.

In addition to drain cleaning, here are two other preventative measures you can take with your plumbing, to ensure that you are never caught in a scenario where you have to pay to fix an emergency.

WaterproofingIf you have ever experienced a flooded basement, with no idea where the water was coming from (other than the rain outside) and no idea how to stop it, then you can sympathize with the need for good waterproofing. A professional plumber can tell you exactly what to do to waterproof your house inside and outside to make sure that your house is protected against the elements. This is another one of those projects that more than pays for itself.

Faucet Repairs

Professional plumbers not only know how to deal with a leaky faucet, but they can help you choose the right hardware for your house and often already have the parts you need with them. They can also help you identify potential problems (like aging or cheap hardware) and address issues before you have a floor covered in water.

By all means, be a weekend warrior and DIY to your heart’s content (and save money while you’re at it), but when it comes to plumbing, call in the pros. Your wallet will end up thanking you in the long run.