Should a plumbing problem occur your home warranty company will be there for you to help you by handling finding a licensed and reliable plumber so that you do not have to worry that you are being taken advantage of and to ensure a timely repair. But, there are also some basic home plumbing maintenance steps you can take to help prevent plumbing problems and should minor plumbing problems occur, you may be able to handle some simple fixes on your own.
First, a great thing for all homeowners to know is where your emergency shut offs are located. You should have emergency shut offs located under all of you plumbing fixtures and knowing how to quickly and effectively shut off water could save some major headaches and help avoid damage during a plumbing problem.
Next, in maintaining your kitchen plumbing you will want to do such things as avoid putting any grease or cooking fats down the drain as they will solidify and cause clogs. Also, when running your garbage disposal you should run cold water during the disposal as well as for 15-20 seconds after turning the disposal off. Also, you should avoid putting any hard or stringy materials through your garbage disposal as they can cause damage.
In your bathrooms, avoid putting sanitary products, cotton balls, tissues or any other objects down your toilet as they are likely to cause clogs. In your showers make sure your drain has a strainer to catch hair as that will quickly lead to a clog if unmanaged. You will also need to regularly clean the strainers. Also, you should check your water heater at least once a year for sediment build up or leaks.
Should a clog occur, there are a few basic ways you can unclog the drain and resume normal usage. First, a great way to unclog a drain that uses basic household ingredients is to pour one cup of baking soda down the drain and then one cup of hot vinegar, wait a few minutes for it to do its work and then flush out the drain with two quarts of very hot water.
Another similar method is to pour the one cup of baking soda down the drain and then one half cup of table salt and allow to sit for a few hours. Once it has sat, use very hot water, approximately two cups, and flush the drain. Should more high strength measures be needed there are chemical plumbing cleaners available at most hardware stores. You can also use drain snakes and plungers should the problem be particularly stubborn.
By regularly maintaining your home plumbing you can avoid costly repairs. Should you feel your plumbing problem warrants a professional level of repair, contact your home warranty company and explain your problem. A good home warranty company, such as Platinum Home Warranty, will be available 24 hours to assist your with your needs and make sure your repair is handled quickly and professionally.