It’s not always on the top of our minds to clean our plumbing fixtures. However, it’s important to the overall health of not only your plumbing system but also for anyone living in your house. Each of these projects, while not too difficult, can be extremely beneficial.
Faucets and Showerheads
Over time and with a lot of use, your faucets and showerheads might not be flowing like they used to. A buildup of lime, minerals, and other sediments can block the nozzles from emitting water with the pressure and consistency it is supposed to. Thankfully, this is usually an easy fix and depends on the material they are made out of.
For the metal ones with a protective coating, it is best to let them soak in white vinegar for about an hour, then rinse and wipe them off with a soft cloth. On the other hand, fixtures with bronze, brass, or other custom finishes should be cleaned with only water in order to protect their original look. When in doubt of what to use, check the manufacturer’s care instructions for your specific model.
Drains
Similar to faucets and showerheads, drain clogs typically don’t happen all at once. Hair in shower drains or food in sink drains collect with use and slowly begin to slow down. An easy home remedy is a combination of baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water, and then letting it sit for about 15 minutes to clear the blockage.
If you have tried it and can’t seem to unclog your drain, it’s best to call a professional. They have the tools and technology required to get to those hard to reach places and get your drain flowing like normal again.
Clearing out your drains periodically will help prevent further, more expensive damage, so now is a great time to do it!
Traps
A trap is a curved pipe underneath your sinks that is used to retain some of the water that goes down the drain, blocking any sewer gasses from coming back up. Even though traps save you from the sewer smell, they also can retain food particles and anything else that you put down the drain.
To clean them, put a bucket underneath that curved piece of pipe and detach it from the rest of the piping. Then, dump or scrape the residue out of it and rinse with water. After it’s clear, reattach it and test it by running the sink–you should be good to go!
If you have any questions regarding how to clean your plumbing fixtures or need a professional to diagnose a plumbing problem, don’t hesitate to call us at Viking Plumbing. We have seen it all in our 35 years of experience, and we would be happy to help you!