Don’t Neglect Home Maintenance! - Wisler Plumbing & Air

It’s a shame that so many homes get neglected. We all know that cars need to have their oil changed on a regular basis. Without proper maintenance, your car would break down way sooner than it should. Your house is no different—the HVAC, electrical and plumbing all need regular maintenance to make sure that your investment is protected. Here are four steps you can follow to keep your home’s plumbing properly maintained:

1. Check your water heater annually.

The biggest item in the home that needs regular maintenance is the water heater. If you were to look online at the manufacturer’s website or in the instruction manual, there would be a list of things that should be performed on an annual basis. Flushing the system is probably near the top of that list.

2. Use all household fixtures.

Throughout the year, you should make sure that all the home’s fixtures are used at least occasionally. Some houses have guest bathrooms that aren’t used on a regular basis. Try to go and take a shower/bath and use those fixtures every once in a while. If the bathroom would just sit idly for a long time, it could be detrimental to the fixtures and potentially decrease their lifespan.

3. Test shutoff valves.

There’s a shutoff valve located under every sink. There’s a main water shutoff valve as well. You should know where the main water valve is located in your home. All of these valves should be worked about every six months to make sure they’re functioning properly. If there was ever an emergency situation, you’d want to be sure that you’re able to shut off the water supply immediately to prevent a flooding catastrophe.

4. Maintain your drains.

Finally, you want to pay attention to drain maintenance. We have a product that we’ll leave with you so you can maintain the drains on a monthly basis. Grease, soap scum, toothpaste, shaving cream, and other debris can be prevented from building up and causing the drains to slow down. If this isn’t taken care of every month, you’ll likely have a major problem during the annual check. It will be much more difficult and more expensive to deal with.

You already know that if you wash and wax your car, change the oil, and replace the fluids, it’s going to look and run better for years to come. The same applies to your home’s HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. The reality is, proper maintenance will extend the life of your investment.

We’re here for you if your plumbing needs attention. If you have any questions about maintenance or repair, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 483-9382.