Express Sewer & Drain Blog

Generally speaking, most home plumbing projects turn out one of two ways: a complete breeze or an utter disaster. There's a lot that can go wrong if you're not careful, unprepared or unequipped for the work at hand.

Recently, we put out a lengthy guide of the 50 most important and useful plumbing tips for residential plumbing; the guide covers eveything from DIY pipe installation to the most effective water conservation methods you can use in and around your Sacramento home.

In this blog, we recap 10 of the most important, relevant home plumbing tips you can use today to improve how you care for and maintain your home plumbing systems.

1. When it comes to broken pipe lines, there are a number of approaches homeowners can take - the best one in each case is entirely circumstantial. Things like pipe depth, location and the type/extent of damage are all factors to consider when selecting a repair option.
   
   
2. Paper products like towels and napkins are the most commonly flushed non-flushable products, and account for roughly 47% of all non-flushable materials found in sewer clogs. Flushing these products contributes to a growing, nationwide problem - don’t be part of that problem.
   
   Additionally, things like “flushable” wet wipes, hygiene products and even hair can result in troublesome drain clogs in short time. “Flushable” wipes cost cities across America millions of dollars every year in sewer line damage.
   
   
3. DIY clog removal: DIY: For stubborn drain clogs, you can snake your own pipes entirely using professional-grade drain augers, which can be found at most home improvement retailers. DIY drain snaking is the perfect solution for persistent, troublesome clogs that flushing and plunging do not eliminate.
   
   
4. Keep an eye out for the warning signs of pipe and water fixture leaks. This includes lush patches on lawns, spikes in your monthly water bill, poor water flow and drain backup.
   
   
5. After mowing your lawn, consider leaving the layer of clippings in place. Lawn clippings help lawns retain water and moisture, especially during the summer months. As a result, you’ll find yourself watering your lawn less than you would had you picked up the clippings.
   
   
6. DIY sink installation: even if installing a new fixture looks simple, stick with the manufacturer’s instructions step-by-step. Some of the most common plumbing problems are the direct result of careless installation. Also, consider applying expanding foam between kitchen sink basins can greatly reduce the echo effect of some sink models. The foam, in this case, stops vibrations caused by water pouring into the basin.
   
   
7. When seeking out professional plumbing services, there are a number of things you should consider, such as licensing, warranty agreements and pricing options. Flat rates for plumbing services are typically a more sound than hourly rates, which can fluctuate due to unforeseen circumstances and result in much higher costs.
   
   
8. Washing dishes by hand wastes much more water than a single dishwasher load of equal volume. Stick with washing dishes in your dishwasher unit, and only running the unit when fully loaded.
   
   
9. A simple, WaterSense-labeled faucet aerator can save as much as 200 gallons of water throughout the fixture’s lifetime. Installing aerators is not just incredibly simple - it’s an easy way to save on water consumption and cost in the long-term.
   
   Also, consider upgrading your existing or dated plumbing fixtures with high-efficiency WaterSense-labeled models. This applies to toilets, shower heads and faucets; virtually every water fixture in your home can be updated with a conservative, eco-friendly alternative.
   
   
10. Be smart with your kitchen’s garbage disposal unit! Things like animal bones, cooking oils and starchy food products can take their toll on your unit, and cause a range of later problems. Also, process ice cubes in your disposal unit to sharpen the blades every so often.

Want some more tips? Just download our comprehensive guide on the 50 best home plumbing tips! The best thing you can have in your DIY plumbing arsenal isn't the tools you use, but rather what you know.