Top 20 Plumbing Tips And Tricks

Problems with your home’s plumbing can quickly become expensive to fix, not to mention the inconvenience caused by having no running water! That’s why prevention is always the best course of action when it comes to plumbing. 

Knowing the basics of your home’s plumbing system is a great way to prevent minor plumbing issues from becoming major ones. For most homeowners, this is as easy as familiarising yourself with your home’s plumbing fixtures, pipes, and hot water system, including regular maintenance needs, where they are located and what they do. Read on to learn 10 of the best plumbing tips and tricks everyone should know!

1. Keep The Kitchen Drain Clear

The build-up of food waste, scum and other substances in the kitchen sink will almost certainly lead to significant blockages over time. Use a fitted drain strainer to catch any food and debris in the water to ensure they are not flushed down the drain, or if you have a waste disposal system, ensure only soft foods are processed and everything is flushed correctly down with plenty of water. 

2. Never Pour Fat Or Grease Down The Drain

Any fat or grease used during cooking should never ever be poured down the drain. This is because the fat will solidify when it cools, creating blockages that are difficult to dislodge. The addition of food scraps and other materials can compound the issue, leading to a significant build-up of debris in the pipes. Good practice after washing the dishes is to run hot water for a period of time down the drain to clear any residual fat and grease.

3. Regularly Check For Leaks

It’s always a good idea to check for leaks on a regular basis, which could include checking pipes, tapware, the hot water cylinder, and floors and walls around the shower. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for any wet patches or overly green areas on the lawn, as this could mean an underground leak is present. Regular plumbing system inspections will help you spot any developing issues before they become major problems.

4. Clear Gutters And Eaves

As winter approaches, it is always a good idea to clear out the gutters. Leaves, twigs and other debris can build up over time causing unseen blockages in the gutter drainage system. These clogged gutters, drains, and drain pipes can become a big problem when heavy rain occurs as the water cannot escape through the intended channels and can enter the home, causing internal damage. 

5. Know How To Turn Your Water Off

Whether it’s a natural disaster, plumbing emergency, or you are just going away for several weeks, knowing the location of the water shut-off valve will help prevent excessive damage and/or reduce the risk of water leakage occurring. The location of these shut-off valves will vary depending on the age and location of your home, it is likely you will find them outside of the house near the entry to your section or along the driveway. In case of an emergency, shut off the mains water valve and call a professional plumber for assistance.

6. Insulate Your Pipes

Covering any exposed pipes around the home is a great way to add an additional layer of protection for warmth retention. This might include hot water pipes leading to the shower, pipes around your hot water cylinder, exposed plumbing in crawl spaces or in the roof or under flooring etc. This simple measure can help reduce heating costs and prevent pipes from freezing in winter. Pipe insulation materials can be purchased from most hardware stores like Mitre 10 or Bunnings, and you can usually install it yourself!

7. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses

Chances are you won’t be needing your outdoor hoses much during the winter months. Disconnecting all hoses and draining and storing them is better than leaving them outside, as they are likely to freeze in low temperatures. If left outdoors and connected, ice can damage the hose and tapware causing cracks and leaks.  

8. Be Careful What You Flush Down The Toilet

Toilets are for natural human waste and toilet paper only. Homeowners should not flush anything else down the toilet. Flushing wipes, personal care products, cotton swabs and other items will lead to blockages that can result in costly repairs.

9. Let A Plunger Do The Work!

Plunging is always the best DIY remedy for blocked or clogged pipes. Invest in good quality plungers of different sizes and types to clear toilets, sinks, and showers. Getting in early is the key to plunger success, so you want to have a go at the first signs of clogging, don’t leave it to get worse as this will make the blockage more difficult to clear.

10. Be Mindful Of What You Put Down The Garbage Disposal

An Insinkerator-style garbage disposal unit can be a valuable addition to your sink’s plumbing system however, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when choosing what you can and cannot flush down them. Objects such as bones, fruit pips, avocado nuts, and tough vegetable offcuts should never be placed in the garbage disposal. These items will likely damage the blades, resulting in the food scraps not being mulched properly leading to the increased likelihood of clogged drains. 

11. Don’t Ignore Leaks

Always deal with leaks as soon as you notice them. Whether it’s that steadily dripping tap, a wet patch in the flooring or a toilet that runs, constantly leaking water means money going down the drain. In fact, a leaky toilet typically wastes several hundreds of litres of water per day! Also if you have undertaken some plumbing work, always check for leaks immediately after by running water through the system - even professional plumbing work can result in insufficiently sealed connections and small leaks!

12. Don’t Over-Tighten Fittings

One of the most common DIY plumbing mistakes is to over-tighten connections. While it is natural to think that making it tighter will prevent leaks, this is sometimes not the case. Over-tightening fittings can lead to breakages, cracking and undue pressure, using the hand-tightening method in conjunction with plumber’s tape is usually the best option.

13. Keep Your Outside Drains Clear

Every 3-4 months or after stormy weather, it pays to go around your property and check that your outside stormwater drains aren’t blocked or full of leaves. This is particularly important in making sure water is able to be collected efficiently and run off your property without causing flooding or damage.

14. Think About Replacing Old Fixtures And Pipes

If the plumbing system in your home is more than 50 years old, it might be time to think about replacing the fittings and pipe work. Older pipes can become brittle and prone to leaks as they gradually wear out over time, whereas older fittings can fail more frequently. This may mean replacing things like the shower head, faucets, toilets and hot water cylinder or a full plumbing refit of all of the pipes – it is best to call a professional plumber for advice on replacing your plumbing.

15. Don’t Overuse Harsh Chemicals

Using drain cleaning chemicals may seem like an easy option to unblock clogged drains, however, these chemicals are extremely corrosive and can actually end up causing damage to your plumbing system. If your drains are clogged and you can’t dislodge it using a plunger it might be time to call a plumber.

16. Keep An Eye On Your Water Bill

One of the easiest ways to determine if you have a leak or not is to monitor your water usage through the water bill or water meter. A sudden unexplained increase in the amount of water used at your property is usually a definite sign you have a leak somewhere. 

17. Install A Whole Home Water Filter

If you find there is a funny taste or smell to your water or persistent staining in your sink or bath, it might be due to the mineral content of your water. Installing a whole home water filter helps filter out impurities in your water and keeps your plumbing system running more smoothly. Whole-home water treatment systems are also great for your hair, skin, and clothes as well as reducing chlorine content.

18. Replace Your Hot Water Cylinder

You may not be aware that in general hot water cylinders only have an expected lifespan of approximately 10 years. This means they will need replacing fairly frequently when compared to other plumbing components in the home. Talk to your plumber about hot water cylinder inspections and replacement options.

19. Check The Water Pressure 

Water pressure that is too high is never a good thing for your plumbing system as it places undue pressure on connections and fittings. Ideally, the water pressure in your home in NZ should be anywhere between 40 and 60 PSI. Have a plumber check out the water pressure for you if you are concerned, they can make the necessary adjustments using a pressure-reducing valve (PRV).

20. Don’t Hesitate To Call A Professional

While some smaller plumbing problems are DIY-friendly, it’s important to recognise when it’s time to call in a professional. Plumbing issues are always best addressed quickly, don’t delay or attempt to fix the problem yourself you may just end up making it worse or cause additional damage to the surrounding area.

Keeping all of the plumbing and drainage systems in and around your home in tip-top shape will help avoid costly plumbing issues, if you need help with plumbing maintenance or think you have a leak, it is always best to contact your local plumber for assistance. Need a reliable, professional plumber in Christchurch? Give Jonathon a call at PlumbFitz today!