Your home’s plumbing system is one of the main systems in your home that should receive regular maintenance. Homeowners that pay attention to their plumbing system are less likely to experience a major, catastrophic incident that can leave you feeling financially unstable. Companies like South Gate Action Plumber & Drain help homeowners by offering regular maintenance programs, but there are some things you can do yourself to make sure that your pipes stay healthy and your bank account untouched.

Use the Right Toilet Paper

One of the biggest culprits of plumbing issues is the toilet paper you use. You cannot get away without using toilet paper, but you have to be mindful about what you flush down the toilet. If you have a newer home, built in the last decade or so, you may have noticed that it doesn’t flush as forcefully as toilets in older homes. This is because newer toilets are manufactured to save energy and reduce water usage. This results in a flushing mechanism that isn’t as forceful as older toilets and causes toilet paper to become stuck in the pipes leading from your toilet. You can reduce the chances of your toilet backing up and the need to call a plumber by using one-ply toilet paper instead of two and using as little as possible.

Consider Toilet Locks

Two-ply toilet paper isn’t the only thing that can clog a toilet and necessitate a service call. If you have small children in the house, it is entirely possible that you could find any number of toys and objects in your toilet at any given time. You can prevent a plumbing disaster from happening by purchasing toilet locks. This will make it difficult for small children to be able to life the lid and insert their blanket, truck, or any other object they think should take a trip down the toilet.

Install a Water Softener

Do you live in a home with hard water? Not only does hard water create nasty stains in your toilets and cause your clothes to fade faster in the wash, but the sediments from the hard water can gather and cling to the insides of your pipes like plague in a heart patient’s arteries. When this happens it can be harder for the water to flow through your pipes and create weaknesses in your system that can lead to major breakdowns and repairs.

If you are not sure what else you need to do to prevent major plumbing disasters, contact professionals like South Gate Action Plumber & Drain to discuss preventative maintenance programs.