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Hints and Tips for a Healthy Plumbing System
An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s
plumbing in top working order – and you’ll avoid costly repairs!
Helpful Hints
- Never store flammable liquids (gasoline, solvents, etc.)
near a water heater, furnace, or other gas fired appliance. They could ignite.
- Periodically check your washing machine hoses for bulges and leaks. Replace any showing these conditions with braided
lines.
- Prevent scalding by keeping the temperature
setting of your water heater no higher than 120° F (medium setting for older models). Also keep in mind that bacteria
can grow at temperatures below 140° F. Bacteria are common in water. The best way to prevent bacteria from growing is
by installing a properly sized ultra-violet light in the water supply main where it enters your home.
- Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don’t run the faucet waiting for
cold water.
- Don’t use hot water to thaw
meat. It is always best to thaw it in the refrigerator.
- Insulate your hot water pipes.
- Encourage
your community, friends, and neighbors to conserve water.
- Are you using more water than you thought? The average is 185 gallons per person per day. It can be surprising how
much water you use per day, and how much money you can save by using less.
- Chemicals, such as bleach, may kill the natural bacteria in your septic system. Don’t use excessive amounts
of detergents and use biodegradable soaps and detergents when possible.
Conservation Tips
Did you know?
The average
person flushes a toilet 5 times each day. With an older 5 gallon flush toilet that’s 25 gallons a day and 9,125 gallons
a year. A new low volume toilet flushes 1.6 gallons per flush, that’s 8 gallons a day and 2,920 gallons a year. Some
toilets have dual flush that allow you to save even more water and $$$.
Did you know?
Heating products in this country are changing rapidly, as energy costs soar. High efficiency products are
becoming more available. Many of these products have been used in Europe for many years. This means these products have had
time to be tested and are less problematic than brand new products entering the market. They are also in many cases just as
or more efficient than newer products. Now available are oil fired boilers that achieve 89% efficiency with low pollution
and little to no soot buildup in the heat exchanger, gas boilers that are 95% efficient, boiler outdoor reset computers and
high efficiency water heaters add up to even more savings. Having a professional install these products in your home can add
up to substantial savings now and into the future. These products are also environmentally friendly, saving energy and putting
less pollution in the air. - Replace your shower head
with a low flow type. Many are available with a shut off so you don’t have to adjust water temperature. Shut off the
water, lather up and then rinse off. Use this method to wash your hair also.
- Change your faucet aerators to flow restricted aerators. Repair leaking faucets. A faucet dripping at 30 drips per
minute wastes 1,577 gallons of water per year. This raises your water and sewer bills.
- Run your clothes washer only when fully loaded or adjust the water level to fit the load.
- At least once a year test your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food
color in your toilet tank. If you see colored water in a few hours your toilet needs repair.
- Dishwashers use lots of water and electricity. Only run your dishwasher when it
is full, and opt for the air dry cycle.
- If you
have a well pump you should check its run time semi-annually. If it turns on and off quickly have it checked. This problem
could cost you several $$$’s over a years time.
- Inspect
and pump your septic tank every three years. More often for larger families.
- If you have drains that are not used very frequently, keep the trap seal full by pouring a bucket of water down those
drains every few weeks.
- Never pour water down
the drain if there is another use for it, such as cleaning, watering gardens or plants.
- If your bath or kitchen is a long distance from your water heater check with your plumber about installing a hot
water recirculating pump instead of letting water run down the drain until it gets hot.
- Often homes have unseen leaks. Write down the numbers from your water meter. After two or three hours of no water
use check if the number has changed. If it has, there is a leak
Before buying appliances check with the US Department of Energy. Buy products with the Energy Star label.
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