Taking care of the plumbing system in your home or commercial space is one of the simplest and smartest decisions to carry out. Plumbing systems can be a costly fix, depending on where the damage is. Clogged pipes are usually a simple issue to sort out, but if left untreated can lead to bigger plumbing problems. Here are 5 ways to avoid clogged pipes:

1. Protect Your Sink Drains

It may seem easy to wash debris and food down the drain, but you risk buildup and blockages by doing so. When cleaning dirty dishes after a meal, be sure to scrape any unwanted food into the trash before rinsing your dish off in the sink. Drain guards are low-cost and useful for catching any missed particles you don’t want to go down your drain.

2. Avoid Using Your Garbage Disposal

Sounds weird, right? Garbage disposals are meant to get rid of unwanted food. Unfortunately, these devices are often overused and improperly cleaned, making for clogs and buildup. If you do use your garbage disposal, regularly clean it by running ice cubes and a lemon through the disposal. The lemon kills bacteria and pulls debris from the walls of your pipes while the ice creates lubrication for the gunk to wash away.

3. Properly Dispose of Grease

Never put any kind of grease in your sink or down your drain – ever. If you’re disposing of grease or fats, pour the liquid into a jar or sealable container that you’re okay with throwing away. Once it cools, you can scrape the solid into the garbage or throw the entire container away. If your jar or container is made of glass, consider taking it to a recycling center

4. Protect Your Tub & Shower Drains

Using a mesh drain guard in your bath or shower will catch any hair and soap scum that doesn’t belong in your drains while still allowing water to come through. Brush your hair before bathing to decrease the amount of it that could potentially go down the drain. Additionally, brush your pets before bathing them in your tub. A mesh drain guard alone won’t be able to stop a clog when it comes to pet hair, so to be safe, put a washcloth over the drain whenever bathing a pet.

5. Trash – Don’t Flush!

A toilet is made to flush only human waste and toilet paper – nothing else! Throw away any feminine products, baby wipes, and other household waste. Flushing stringy, bulky, or dense items can cause an unwanted toilet clog very quickly. This rule of thumb also goes for faucets – never let anything go down the drain that isn’t supposed to be there.

If you have questions or are experiencing clogged pipes contact Express Plumbing today. Our experienced plumbers are here to help you.

A pipe’s a pipe – and if your water pipes are sound, you’ll never have a leak. Right? Actually, your plumbing is more than a bunch of connected pipes. At each connection between fixtures and pipes, there are rubber gaskets. And for a seal to be watertight (read: leak-free), those gaskets must be in good condition. However, rubber gaskets and hoses are just like anything else. They deteriorate over time. And if they’re allowed to dry out, they’ll crack sooner than later. Fortunately, there’s 1 simple way how to prevent cracked plumbing seals.

How to Prevent Cracked Plumbing Seals

Ever see a picture of a dry, cracked desert floor? That’s kind of what a cracked rubber seal looks like. And what’s the common factor? You got it – water. Without water, gaskets and hoses will start to dry out and crack. As simple as that sounds, many (if not most) homeowners forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind.

So let’s say you’re going on vacation. Don’t shut down your water system, at least not completely. While you don’t want your home to flood if a pipe bursts, you also have to keep plumbing seals wet.

If you’ll be on the road for an extended period, try to find someone to check in on your house every so often to run the taps – and maybe even water your plants while they’re at it.

Tip: Check for Cracked and Dried Out Plumbing Seals When Buying a Home

When you’re buying an older home, especially one that’s been vacant for a while, the owner has probably had the water shut off for some time. If the pipes are dry as a bone, the rubber seals have probably lost integrity.

So that you can spot any leaks – and require the seller to replace the seals prior to sale – make sure the water’s been back on for a few days before your inspection. That should give any cracked-gasket plumbing leaks time to show themselves.

There’s good news: an experienced plumber will be able to quickly and easily replace any broken or cracked gaskets you may have. For help with this simple – and vital – part of home plumbing maintenance, Call Express Plumbing. Our expert plumbers are ready to help.

Mornings can be chilly enough as it is. But have you ever hopped in the shower and been met with ice cold water? Anyone who’s had a broken water heater knows the feeling. And just about everyone has a broken water heater story. Read on to learn how to tell if your water heater is broken.

How to Tell if Your Water Heater is Broken – 5 Ways

1. Your Temperature Fluctuates

Today it’s hot, yesterday it was cool, and who knows what tomorrow will be. Icy? Let’s hope not.

If your hot water isn’t a consistent temperature, or if it won’t get hot enough, your water heater may be broken. First, check the thermostat.

A simple temperature adjustment may do the trick. If so, you’re in luck. If not, it’s time to think about replacing the unit. The best temperature to keep your hot water at is between 120°F and 140°F.

2. Your Water Is Icy

Now, heaven forbid you find yourself without hot water at all. That’s a cold way to start the day. And if your hot water just never comes, your heating element is probably broken. Either that, or its power source isn’t working. One or more parts will need replacement before you get your next hot shower.

3. Your Heater Is Noisy

Normally, your hot water heater makes very little noise. So when it starts getting loud, you’ll notice. Banging, knocking, loud creaks, or a whining noise may indicate sediment build-up inside the tank.

In simple cases, a simple tank flush may fix the issue. However, a heating element in the process of burning out can also cause noise. If that’s the case, you’ll need to get it replaced.

4. Your Water Is Bad

If your hot water tastes (or smells) metallic, your water heater may be on its last legs. Check it for rust spots and compare the taste of your hot water with cold water. For consistency, cover them and let them both come to room temperature before doing the comparison.

5. Your Heater Is Leaking

Well, this one’s an obvious one. But you may not even notice it if the water heater is leaking through the floorboards behind a closet door.

If you do notice a hot water heater leak, or if there’s a puddle around its base, call a home comfort professional immediately. Or else you’ll risk major damage.

Here’s a number to remember: your home water heater is probably only good for 10 years. 15 if you’re lucky and it’s an awesome unit. Then, it’s time to replace the unit with a newer, more efficient model.

Is it time to replace or fix your water heater? Call Express Plumbing! If you live in Harrison, East Brainerd, Hixson, or Chattanooga, TN, our professionals are happy to help.