Maintenance Minute: DIY Plumbing Solutions

Problems with your plumbing can cause a great deal of damage to your property and your units. Plumbing repairs can be troublesome and expensive to take care of. While most people don’t think of their plumbing as something that needs to be worried about, a little TLC goes a long way to increase the longevity of your pipes.

Prevent Leaks and Clogs

Preventative maintenance can drastically increase the longevity of your pipes and fixtures. Consider how the following preventative measures might benefit your community:

– Purchase a hose bib gauge and measure the water pressure from your shower. It should register between 40 – 85 psi. High water pressure puts a lot of strain on pipes and weakens them.

– Consider installing a water softener. Hard water slowly erodes the pipes in your property’s units.

– Encourage renters to be aware of any drips or leaks in their apartment and report plumbing problems quickly. During inspections, consider personally checking for drips and leaks.

– Learn where main water shut-off valves and water shut-off valves for appliances are located in the units in case of an emergency. Inform residents where such shut-off valves are located as well.

– Replace toilets, faucets and shower heads with low flow alternatives. Not only will renters save money on utilities, their plumbing systems will also last longer.

How to Clean and Unclog Your Drains

Calling a plumber is expensive in some cases, and for simple jobs you can usually fix issues on your own.

A common plumbing problem occurs in drains, whether for the tub or the sink. Fortunately, there are a few DIY tricks to unclog drains or improve the work they do. Mix vinegar with hot water and pour it down the drain, this will remove some of the gunk that is clogging it. Be wary of chemical solutions that unclog drains, as some can eat away at pipes. Drain snakes are also effective at removing hair or other debris from drains.

When little to no water is coming out of sink faucets or shower heads, you may have to do a little dirty work. Remove the aerators from either and scrub them with a small brush, water and vinegar. If that doesn’t work, try soaking the aerator in vinegar for 30 minutes or longer. This will remove any chemical buildup that may have accumulated over the years.

Get Educated

There are many available resources to help you learn about plumbing maintenance and repairs. Many blogs and youtube videos are devoted to this topic.

In addition to such materials, consider attending a free plumbing maintenance seminar hosted by Rainforest Plumbing & Air. Seminars at Rainforest University include applicable instruction in regards to basic/advanced plumbing systems, preventative maintenance solutions, water heater repair & maintenance or custom seminars tailored to your specific needs. These free seminars are events that your maintenance team will not want to miss. Give Rainforest Plumbing & Air a call today at (480) 615-7766 to schedule your free seminar at Rainforest University!

 


Not yet a member?

Kick start your multifamily career into overdrive by creating your FREE Multihousing Friends account today!

CREATE MY ACCOUNT

Taylor Fish
Taylor is a staff writer for Multihousing Friends and a student at Brigham Young University.