There are many things that can go wrong in your home. But one of the most annoying things to go wrong is an issue with your water system. Its important that you know what is going on with your water system to avoid break downs. Read the article below for some basic plumbing tips!

1. Ensure you are familiar with turning off your main water valve (it’s usually by the water meter). If you ever have a leak somewhere, this will be the first thing you’ll want to do, and the faster you can do it the less water damage there will be and the more money you will save. You should also make notes of where all the other valves are for your hot water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, sinks, etc – and you should test these by closing and opening them once a year.
2. Know what you can and cannot put down the drain (including oils, fats, and more). Some things that you put down your drain will cause a blockage to occur. A bad blockage can shutdown your entire water system.
3. Know what you can and cannot put down your garbage disposal unit. Again, not everything can be put down your disposal unit. Be cautious and educate those in your household.
4. Know the different types of plungers and when you should use each. Using a particular plunger will give you a particular result. Using a plunger correctly to unblock a drain can save you a lot of money, as you will not need to call out a plumber.
5. You can clear a blocked drain with off-the-shelf chemicals or with ½ a cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda poured in at once followed by hot water. However, take into account these are only temporary fixes. Even with multiple treatments with chemicals, the main clog can still be building up (and you can damage the pipes if apply too many), looming to the day it will backup. It’s recommend you have your drains inspected with a drain camera and/or cleared every 3-5 years to avoid a major backup, and much bigger problems. You should really have an inspection if you notice floor or basement drains are not as fast as they should be, this is something you should call a plumber to look at.
6. Keep your outside gutters and drains clear and free of debris and tree roots. Keep an eye out for abnormal puddling of water on the ground, which can sometimes mean an underground leak is occuring.
7. Keep the number of your local plumber handy, as oftentimes you need help fast. Knowing this in advance reduces the need to do quick research on the internet that might result in hiring an unqualified or fly-by-night plumber.