The average household plumbing system represents an investment of about fifteen percent of the value of the house. No part of the house is more important than your plumbing! The most used part of the house is also the most taken for granted. From clean drinking water to waste removal, plumbing is not just a convenience anymore, it is a pin to health and safety. An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s plumbing in top working order – and help you avoid costly repairs! Preventative maintenance is key to proper functioning plumbing and long lasting fixtures.
Even small drips in your plumbing can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks, and always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid wasting water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes. Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow.
Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and read your owner's manual. We recommend having one of our plumbers check over your water heater every year. Our plumbers will check all of the safety devices and flush it out which helps your water heater last longer so you get more bang for your buck.
Toilet leaks in can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. This is part of Drake Mechanical's plumbing preventative maintenance plan. If you notice that your toilet frequently clogs up it may be time for a new water closet. Over time the buildup of calcium and other minerals in the toilets trap way can cause things to hang up on it and clog. Other issues can be that your toilet, even if new, may have a bad casting, resulting in a piece of porcelain hanging down grabbing onto toilet paper. We also recommend that you NEVER use liquid drain cleaners if you have a problem. They can cause severe burns to the plumber who tries to manually clear the clog. If you do try chemical drain cleaners please tell your plumber so they can wear protective equipment when handling the toilet. Chemical drain cleaners can also heat up the water hot enough to crack and break the toilet bowl. If you cannot unclog it with a plunger, please contact a professional to help you get it taken care of quickly and worry free.
You can extend the life of your garbage disposal by: Use plenty of cold water when running the garbage disposal. Making sure to avoid overloading the garbage disposal and every once in a while put some orange, lemon or lime rind down your garbage disposal to help with smell and reduce grease build up. The citric acid has a great smell and cuts grease really well. If the lemon does not help you can ask one of our plumbers about Drake's Choice citrus degreaser. Drake's Choice helps break down grease and grime in your pipes and garbage disposal while at the same time getting rid of that stinky garbage disposal smell.
Drake Mechanical employs the valley's top team of plumbers! They are up to date on the latest plumbing code changes, tools and plumbing methods. Our plumbers are skilled Journeyman who have had the proper training and have passed the State of Idaho Plumbing exams which are both written code and a hands-on plumbing test. Rest assured that Drake Mechanical is not sending unlicensed people into your homes and offices while you pay journeyman plumber rates for an untrained apprentice.
Call Now! Request Service