Plumbing Tips

Treat your sink and bathtub drains to a quick, safe, environmentally friendly cleaning.  Make a mixture of 1-cup salt, 1-cup baking soda, and 1/4-cup cream of tarter.  Pour equal amounts into your various drains and follow up with 2 cups of boiling water for each drain.

Do not put cooking grease and oils down the drain.  Grease and oil are more likely to collect and clog when your plumbing is colder.  Also try to not put hard to grind objects or stringy substances down into the disposal. Rice (cooked or uncooked) is also a No-No, as it will expand inside of the drain creating a blockage.  Always run cold water through the disposal for at least 15 seconds before and after each use and be sure to turn on the disposal before filling it with food debris.

If you have guests arriving over the holidays remember that at least 10 minute intervals between showers is optimal to maintain hot water and to allow the proper recovery time for a tank type water heater.

You can use foam sleeves or special insulating tape to guard your hot and cold water pipes against freezing.  Every few days make sure to check out pipes in the basement or in little used areas of the house to make sure no ice or frost is accumulating or cracks developing.

Make sure to unattach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive. Drain any residual water from spigots and hoses.  Don’t leave hoses attached to outdoor faucets over the winter; roll up and store until spring.