Not many homeowners in Australia know just how hard their plumbing systems work every day. But when you stop to think about it, you start to realise just how much pressure your pipes are under – literally and figuratively. When you run your washing machine or dishwasher, take a shower, do the dishes, or just brush your teeth, your pipes are working to bring the water where it needs to go.
While your pipes may not be operating nonstop, it’s clear that moving all the water you use from day to day results in wear and tear on your plumbing system. Plumbers in Five Dock will tell you that even if your pipes are made of modern materials compared to, say, copper, they can still start thinning and wearing out over time, leading to leaks – or worse, burst pipes.
The good news is, even if you can’t completely stop your pies from wearing out, you can take a few steps to make sure it happens later rather than sooner. Here are the top tips to help you do just that.
Check Your Water Pressure
High water pressure can make pipes and their connections weaken or wear out that much faster, especially if taps are on full blast. To counter this, check your home’s water pressure to ensure it’s at an acceptable level. Most experts recommend that the PSI doesn’t go higher than 84.
If you want to check your home’s water pressure more often and need a more convenient way to do so, consider installing a water pressure gauge somewhere you can easily check on it throughout the day.
Watch What You Flush Down The Toilet
Flushing items that aren’t meant to be flushed down the toilet, such as feminine hygiene products, Q-tips, or sweets wrappers, will eventually lead to a clogged toilet. Not only will you be unable to use the toilet until it’s unclogged, but clogs can affect the rest of your plumbing system, too.
When there’s a blockage or clog somewhere in the system, it creates a chokepoint, and that causes pressure to build up in that area. When enough pressure builds up, it can lead to backed-up pipes and leaks, which will impact how long your pipes last. In the worst case scenario, a pipe could burst because of that clog, so make sure you flush only what’s supposed to be flushed.
Don’t Ignore Leaks Or Slow Drains
Slow drains mean there’s a blockage somewhere in your plumbing system, while leaks means there’s a weakness somewhere. In both cases, you’ll want to fix the problem as soon as possible, whether it means tackling the problem yourself or hiring a professional to do so.
As with a clogged toilet, blocked pipes means increased pressure, so the sooner you get rid of the blockage, the better for you and your plumbing system. As for leaks, water dripping through a crack, no matter how small, will eventually undermine the pipe’s integrity, not to mention add to your water bill. The sooner you have a leaky pipe fixed or replaced, the better – for both your plumbing system and your wallet.
There are other tips, such as not using chemical drain cleaners because of how harsh they can be. But these are the simplest and the most effective ways you can prolong the life of your pipes.