Columbus Plumbing Tips For Homeowners

Maintenance in Columbus depends on which era your house belongs to. In the older core it is aging material and the street trees working on your lateral. In the newer subdivisions it is ground still settling under new pipe, and in both it is getting ahead of the Ohio winter.

Know Where Your Main Shutoff Is

Every homeowner in Columbus should know exactly where their main water shutoff valve is and confirm it actually turns. In an emergency every second counts. If you cannot locate it or it is corroded and stuck have a plumber address it before you need it. It is one of the simplest and most important things you can do to protect your home.

Watch Your Water Bill Every Month

Watch your Columbus water bill against the same month a year earlier rather than against last month, because summer irrigation shifts usage considerably. Off season an unexplained rise usually means a buried break or a freeze split that seeps, neither of which gives any other warning.

A sudden increase with no change in usage almost always means a hidden leak. Our leak detection service in Columbus finds the source fast before water damage compounds.

Do Not Ignore Slow Drains

Drain habits matter in Columbus, but a camera inspection of the lateral in autumn is the step that actually informs you. Whether the cause turns out to be roots or settlement, autumn is the last comfortable window before the frost closes the ground for the season.

A slow drain is the earliest warning sign of a blockage building. Clearing it early costs far less than clearing a full backup. Our drain cleaning team serves Columbus and Franklin County.

Flush Your Water Heater Once a Year

Flush your water heater every year in Columbus, ideally before winter, because the incoming supply is cold for months and the tank carries its heaviest load then. In a century old basement it is worth having the venting arrangement checked while somebody is already down there.

An annual flush extends tank life and keeps energy costs down. Learn more about water heater maintenance in Columbus.

Never Put Grease Down the Drain

Grease cools and hardens inside your pipes regardless of whether you run hot water with it. Over time it builds up and catches everything else that goes down. Use a container and throw it in the trash instead. This single habit prevents a significant percentage of kitchen drain calls we get in Columbus.

Check Under Sinks Regularly

Under sink leaks in Columbus start at the connection points rather than in the pipe, and in the older neighborhoods those shutoffs are frequently much older than the fixture above. Cabinets on exterior walls need attention each winter, since the lines behind them run coldest during a cold snap.

A quick check every few months catches small drips before they become cabinet damage or mold. If you find a leak our pipe repair team in Columbus can fix it fast.

Know When to Call a Pro

The DIY line in Columbus is generous on winter preparation and fixture parts in either half of the city. Where it stops is anything buried, because in the older core you cannot see roots or a separated joint and in a subdivision the pipe is fine while the ground moved.

Some things are worth attempting yourself — a running toilet flapper, a slow drain you can snake. Anything involving your main line, water heater, or pipe repair behind walls is a job for a licensed plumber. Call PRO Plumbers of Columbus in Columbus any time you are not sure.

Call PRO Plumbers of Columbus Now
(614) 502-5516