How You Can Prevent Flood Damage, Leaks and Clogs

You expect your home’s plumbing system to run smoothly, but potential problems can hide around every corner. Thankfully, you can stop obstructions, leaks and water damage with a little routine care. Here’s the way to keep your water running and your stress levels low.

1. Know What Not to Put in the Drain

A lot of sinks in the kitchen may be equipped with a garbage disposal, but certain food items still not rinsed down the drain, like:

• Grease, oil and cooking fat
• Stringy foods like corn and celery stalks
• Old food like steamed rice or coffee grounds
• Tough pieces of food like fruit pits and bones
• Anything that isn’t edible. Silverware and other small items can fall into the disposal and damage something when you turn it on.

2. Know What Not to Flush

Toilets are designed to dispose of human waste and toilet paper. Here’s what you should never flush:

• Baby and/or wet wipes
• Paper towels
• Cotton swabs and cotton balls
• Feminine hygiene products
• Baby diapers
• Dental floss
• Old medication

3. Employ Drain Strainers

Another effective way to avoid clogging is to place mesh strainers over your kitchen and shower drains. They trap hair, bits of soap, old toothpaste and other debris as water flows down the drain. these strainers to keep your drains flowing freely.

4. Know Where the Main Shutoff Valve Is Located

Being aware of your plumbing system means knowing how to find your main water shutoff valve. This valve regulates water flowing into your home, so knowing where it is means you can turn it off quickly in a plumbing emergency. It’s also wise to shut off this valve before going away for an extended period. Common locations for the main shutoff valve include the basement, near the water heater, in a utility closet or outside the home buried underground.

5. Install a Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump helps prevent floods, particularly in areas prone to lots of rain. This device extracts water that gathers in the sump basin, generally installed in the floor of your basement, and expels it away from the house. If you already have a sump pump, check it every now and then by adding some water into the pit. If the pump activates and the pit drains, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t work properly, you have time to call a professional to fix the pump before the next big storm.

6. Put in Flood Alarms

Similar to how smoke alarms help improve fire safety, flood alarms can help avoid water damage. These wired or battery-operated devices sense pooling water at the earliest stages of flooding or leaks, sounding an alarm to alert you. For further protection, include smart flood alarms into your home security system. This sends a notification on your phone as soon as water is detected, helping to handle leaks before they cause significant damage.

7. Install a Backflow Valve

Experienced plumbers often suggest that homeowners install a backflow valve in the basement floor drain to stop sewage from flowing back into their homes because of heavy rainfall. Professionals can fit this useful defense against sewage flowing back into the house.

Learn to Recognize and Prevent Leaking

Now that we’ve covered best practices and useful plumbing accessories, let’s review some preventive steps you can take to avoid leaks, or worse, burst pipes.

Most of your home plumbing system is concealed, so dripping pipes often go unseen until they cause major problems. Regularly checking for leaks can help you identify problems quickly. Here’s how:

• Inspect under the sink for signs of damp spots, rotting wood or mold.
• Keep an eye out for small leaks in your toilet by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after 30 minutes without flushing, you’ve got a leak.
• Check around and behind your appliances, including the dishwasher or washing machine, for signs of water damage or leaks.
• Conduct a water meter test.
  • To get started, close off all water in your home via the home’s water main.
  • Then, walk outside to read the water meter. Check one more time after two hours, being careful not to use any water before the test is done.
  • If the reading goes up, it means there’s a leak somewhere.

Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

In cold climates, doing your part to protect vulnerable pipes is vital if you want to prevent freezing and bursting. Here are some professional recommendations:

• Wrap the pipes in insulation in purely functional/utility spaces like the basement, garage or attic using insulating foam or heating tape.
• Remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets during the winter to keep ice from forming inside the pipes.
• Keep your cabinet doors under the sink open during freezing temperatures to encourage airflow around the pipes.

Work with a Reliable Plumber

While you can implement all sorts of preventive steps on your own to minimize the risk of clogs, leaks and damage from floods, sometimes it takes an experienced plumber to keep things flowing smoothly. That’s where can help. We are a network of plumbers serving U.S. homes from coast to coast with service backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied with your level of service up to a year later, we will do whatever it takes to make it right. This industry-leading dedication shows how we deliver total comfort and peace of mind in your life. For professional local plumbing service that exceeds expectations, please contact us today