There’s nothing like a nice, hot shower to help you prepare for the day ahead or to let you wind down for the night. The time you spend in your shower is a time for great thinking, personal serenades, and taking care of yourself, not for worrying about the state of your plumbing. Issues with your shower plumbing can go on to affect your entire day, from obstructed water flow to clogged drains, but with the right habits a lot of these issues can be lessened or even avoided entirely. Here’s what you need to know in order to keep the plumbing in your shower in good shape!
Protect Your Drain
Having to stand in several inches of water while you take your shower is never a fun experience, but a clogged drain can make it something that you have to undergo every day. Clogged drains can be difficult to deal with, so it’s wise to prevent them from the start by protecting your drain from the things that cause clogs. A drain cover or hair trap that keeps hair out of your drain will go a long way in avoiding clogs, even if no one that uses your shower has long hair. It’s also smart to stick to the recommended amounts of products like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Excess amounts of these things can also clog up your drain! Regular professional drain cleanings can also help prevent clogs and other issues.
Clean Your Showerhead
Nothing can sour your day faster than a disappointing shower with reduced flow. The most common cause of this is from hard water buildup– if you live in an area with hard water, you’ll see this happen often. The minerals in the water form deposits over time as the water dries, and this can build up on the nozzles of your showerhead and restrict the flow of water. The easiest way to counteract this problem is to occasionally clean your showerhead with white vinegar, dissolving and removing the deposits!
Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners
When you do run into a clog in your drain, many people’s first response is to reach for a chemical drain cleaner, but these products might end up doing more harm than good for your plumbing. These chemicals are often acidic and corrosive and will often cause your pipes to break down, especially over time. Additionally, if the slow drain isn’t caused by a clog of hair or some other blockage, but is instead the result of something like a damaged pipe, a chemical drain cleaner won’t address the issue at all. It’s better to rely on manual methods like plungers, or to call in the pros.
Address Small Issues Quickly
One thing you never want to do is let a small plumbing issue turn into a big plumbing issue. Many problems, like minor leaks or clogs, low water pressure, or noisy pipes are often quickly and easily addressed if you take care of them promptly, but if you ignore them or put off repairing them, they can make themselves worse and become expensive and time consuming to fix. When you have a small issue with your shower, take care of it as soon as possible! You could be preventing some serious headaches down the line.
Have a Reliable Plumber
Without a doubt, the best thing you can do for your shower plumbing is to have a reliable plumber that you can call on to help you with everything from leaks to low water pressure. If you live in the Lancaster, PA area, The Plumbing Works is here for you. Contact us today to discuss your plumbing needs!
