Hello, my name is Lelani O’Malley. Welcome to my website about keeping your plumbing system in great shape. When I bought my first home, I was shocked to learn that it was built in the early 1900s. Another shocking discovery awaited as I learned that the plumbing system remained from its original build. Upon learning those facts, I dedicated my time to learning how to keep that system in great condition. I developed this website to bring that knowledge to you as well. I want to help all my readers maintain their existing plumbing system for years to come. Thank you for coming by.
Keeping Your Shower Up To Par
As a homeowner, you want to be sure you do everything possible to keep your entire home in as good of condition as possible. One of the areas you want to pay particularly close attention to is the shower. This is due to the fact that it does have some areas that can easily lead to some major problems if you aren't careful. Here are some different tips and advice for staying on top of your showers to avoid some future problems and the need for plumbing assistance:
Prevent clogs from occurring: One of the weaknesses showers have is the drains can clog up quite easily due to the amount of hair, bits of soap and other small pieces of debris that can make their way into the pipes where they can cause clogs. You should purchase a drain screen to place in the drain of your shower. This drain can be easily removed and dumped in the wastebasket after you shower in order to continue keeping the water flowing down the drain like it is supposed to.
Stay away from harsh cleaning chemicals: Something that a lot of homeowners do when they are cleaning their showers is to grab those harsh cleaning supplies that promise to eat away the dirt and grime almost instantly and without any need for scrubbing. The problem with these harsh chemicals is they are so strong they will damage the integrity of your home's PVC pipes and other parts of the plumbing system over time. Also, if you are on septic, then these chemicals will also have a negative effect on the chemical balance of the septic system, which can lead to entirely different issues you won't want to find yourself dealing with. It's much better to opt for more natural or gentler cleansers and put in a little more elbow grease to clean the shower.
Install a new shower head when necessary: If you would like a new shower head for any reason, this is something you should not have a problem doing yourself. Make sure you purchase a shower head that will fit and have all necessary supplies gathered. The supplies you need include a clean rag, plumber's tape, and a pipe wrench. You may be able to remove the shower head by hand, but you may also need to use the pipe wrench to loosen it until you get to the point where you can finish removing it by hand. Take off the entire assembly for the old shower head and follow the instructions on the package for assembling and installing the new one. Before you go to actually twist the head assembly on the pipe, you want to dry off the end of the pipe and put plumber's tape on it to avoid leaks.
Make sure the vent is working and gets used for every shower: It is extremely important to have everyone use the vent when they shower. Otherwise, the hot steam can lead to damage of some of the paint that is in the bathroom, especially the paint closest to the shower enclosure.
Recognize when it is time to call a plumber: Anytime you have concerns regarding the plumbing system of your shower, or any other plumbing elements in the entire house, you want to call the professionals. It's better to have a plumber take on those big tasks, so you don't end up making matters worse.