Household maintenance is crucial to keeping the different aspects of your home up and running. However, when it comes to your plumbing system, prevention is your best line of defence against malfunction and disrepair. Considering how extensive your plumbing system is, it is advisable to pay meticulous attention to its condition, or you will find yourself in the unfortunate situation where your plumbing is on the decline. Homeowners looking to sidestep potential problems such as burst pipes and a backed up plumbing system should employ the following preventative tips.

Be wary of what goes down your drains

Foreign compounds will eventually make their way down your pipes, but this does not mean that you cannot limit the amount of debris that gets flushed into your plumbing system. A good way of curtailing this is by investing in grease traps for your frequently used drains. These traps will collect debris such as food crumbs, hair and even limit the amount of grease that coagulates inside your drains. Additionally, be watchful of hygiene products being flushed down the toilet, such as wipes and cotton swabs, as these take a long time to disintegrate, thus increasing the likelihood of a blockage developing.

Choose your yard plants carefully

A common yet often underrated risk to your plumbing is the types of plants you choose to landscape your property with. One of the most significant plumbing emergencies that you could encounter is a burst pipe. Nevertheless, despite sewer lines being located underground in the outdoors, not many homeowners are aware of this risk. Vegetation with extensive root systems will progressively gravitate toward a water source. Thus, minor leaks or even condensation from your outer plumbing pipes could significantly increase the likelihood of root intrusions and subsequent disintegration of your pipes. Instead, it is prudent to consider drought-tolerant greenery as these are characterised by small root systems. Additionally, plants that grow at a slow pace make a great option because they will not develop pervasive root systems that may jeopardise your plumbing lines.

Keep industrial cleaners away from your plumbing

An assumption many homeowners have is that recurrent clogs should be dealt with via heavy-duty drain cleaners. And while these cleaning agents may eliminate the problem for a while, frequent exposure translates into the progressive eroding of the lining of your plumbing. Subsequently, you end up causing another problem in the form of premature degradation of the hardware. Rather than resort to industrial cleaners, it is much safer to invest in professional drain cleaning to mitigate the chances of a plumbing emergency.

In the event of serious clogs or burst pipes, be sure to call an emergency plumber.