You Pick the Plumber is pleased to share these general tips to extend the life of your fixtures and water and sewer systems and to keep them running efficiently. If you have any questions about proper maintenance or need assistance with any plumbing issue in your home or business, don’t hesitate to contact You Pick the Plumber. We’re here to help!

1. It's good practice to flush your water heater every 6 months. This will extend the life of the water heater.

2. It's wise to have a back-flow device on your outside hose bibs to prevent contaminated water from entering into your drinking source. In some states this is required by law.

3. During winter, insulate any exposed water lines or let the hose bib leak so your pipes don't burst.

4. Make sure all vent lines are clear of debris so that gases can escape properly .

5. If water continues to run inside a toilet, it is usually the flapper or the ballcock, in which case you may need a plumber to check it out for you.

6. If you have removed your toilet and re-tiled the floor and now the flange is too low, speak to a plumber. There are many options on the market that can provide a simple fix.

7. If you have a broken waterline under a concrete driveway or walkway, talk to a plumber. There are ways to access and fix the water line without removing the concrete.

8. To prevent scalding, it is good practice to have an expansion tank installed in conjunction with the water heater. Water heaters can expand under high temperatures, forcing hot water from the heater to exit the temperature pressure relief valve (TPR), possibly resulting in accidental scalding.

9. Wall-hung water heaters save money and are very compact and out-of-the-way. Make sure you have adequate water pressure and proper gas sizing and that the unit you choose is not undersized for your application.

10. Remember to replace one-piece metal supply line valves in your home. Over time these become very brittle and can end up flooding the home. Talk to your plumber about when and how often to replace these valves.

11. Make sure your home has a gate valve. In case of an emergency or a broken water line in the home you have an easily accessible way to shut off the house to protect from flooding.

12. For longer life expectancy, replace all hard piping on exterior walls with some form of braided supply lines.

13. If your toilet tank sweats and water is running down onto the floor it may be due to the cold water in the tank and the warmness in the home. Ask your plumber about ways to stop this.

14. If you are looking to install a new toilet for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, it should be at least 17" high.

15. When choosing a control valve (tub and/or shower valve) make sure it's a scald -free device.

16. When installing a water softener it's good practice to install a water filtration system as well to purify your home's drinking water.

17. If you have a main sewer line clog it's helpful to know the location of your cleanout before the plumber arrives.

18. When attempting to unclog a drain using chemicals, remember that most of them are already diluted. This is why most chemicals don't work - you're pouring diluted chemicals into more water, thus diluting them further.

19. When having a drain cleared with a cable it's good practice to periodically have a camera look at your line for any defects or problems in the making.

20. Hydro jetting is a process in which high pressure water is forced out of a hose to clear your lines. Hydro jetting removes more waste from the line than cleaning with conventional cables.