How Plumbing Maintenance Helps You Conserve Water Year-Round

A plumbing system is responsible for delivering clean water into your home and removing waste water and sewage. Maintaining your plumbing will enhance energy efficiency and reduce utility bills.

Plumbing issues such as slow drains, clogged pipes, and leaky faucets contribute to high energy bills. In addition, leaking pipes can lead to water damage and mold growth. Regular maintenance checks can identify and repair these problems to reduce your energy costs.

Leak Detection

A leaking toilet, broken water heater or pipe, and other minor leaks may seem insignificant, but they contribute to high water bills and water damage. Early leak detection helps to prevent these issues and reduce water consumption.

Acoustic equipment can hear a leak through walls and floors, allowing plumbers to pinpoint its location. This technology is ideal for detecting and fixing hidden leaks, especially in concrete or underground pipes.

A large water utility in Australia used acoustic sensors to detect underground leaks and save billions of litres each year. This shows how proactive leak detection can help protect our water supplies and ensure availability during droughts. Detecting and repairing leaks quickly can reduce the strain on municipal water sources, ensuring they last longer and saving money on utilities for residents and businesses. Regular inspections, monitoring systems, and water-efficient fixtures help catch leaks before they cause significant problems. They can also be prevented by installing low-flow showerheads and faucets to minimize water usage without compromising performance.

Water Heater Flushing

Annual water heater flushing is a simple maintenance task that can prevent sediment build-up and extend the life of your tank. When sediment accumulates inside your water heater, the heating element must work harder to produce hot water for your home. This increases energy consumption, resulting in higher energy bills.

Sediment can also clog plumbing lines and cause long-term water damage, which can be costly. In addition, excessive sediment can lead to the pressure building inside of the tank, causing it to burst.

To flush your tank, turn off the cold water supply to your water heater and then attach a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Next, open a faucet somewhere in the house (preferably a tub faucet) and slowly drain the water from the tank. Finally, turn on the water hose and close the drain valve to restart your water heater. Be sure to read your water meter before and after to determine how much water was used.

Drain Cleaning

Drains are small, hidden fixtures that often go unnoticed until a problem arises. These problems may manifest as slow drainage, foul odors, or even a complete clog.

Luckily, there are many preventative steps you can take to avoid these issues. For instance, limiting what goes down your drains can help avoid serious clogs. This includes avoiding pouring grease down the drain, limiting food scraps in kitchen sinks, and using strainers to catch hair and soap scum.

Another way to keep your drains healthy is by regularly cleaning them with commercial chemical cleaners or natural alternatives such as a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This keeps your drains free of debris that can cause clogs, and helps you identify early warning signs like bubbling or hissing sounds. Regular drain cleaning also helps your system work more efficiently, helping you save water. This is a small step that has huge benefits for your home. From autumn leaves clogging outdoor drains to holiday grease buildups in winter, drains face unique challenges each season.

Insulating Pipes

Pipe insulation is a great way to prevent your water pipes from freezing and bursting during cold winter weather. Frozen water pipes can cause serious and expensive plumbing damage to your home. Insulating your pipes will help you avoid these problems and save energy at the same time.

Insulating your pipes will also reduce heating costs by raising the water temperature more quickly. It will also prevent your pipes from sweating during summertime, which can reduce humidity levels in your home and minimize condensation issues.

Pipe insulation is easy to install, and most homeowners can do it themselves. You can use foam pipe sleeves that are pre-slit and self-sealing or wrap-type pipe insulation. Make sure the entire length of each pipe is covered and that no areas are left exposed. This will ensure the most effective result. Be sure to insulate any elbows and joints on the pipes. This will keep the water temperature even throughout the system. For more information, check out sites like https://www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/plumber-geelong/ which can provide a lot of resourceful information.