10 Awesome Basic Plumbing Tips
We rarely think about our plumbing—until something goes wrong. The good news is that most common plumbing problems are preventable with a few simple habits. Whether you are a first-time homeowner in Airdrie or have lived in your Calgary home for decades, these practical tips can help you avoid costly repairs and keep your plumbing system running smoothly year-round.
1. Toss Grease, Don't Pour It
Solidify cooking oils and put them in the trash, not down the drain. Grease may look liquid when it is hot, but it cools quickly inside your pipes and sticks to the walls of your drain lines. Over time, grease buildup narrows the pipe opening and creates stubborn clogs that are difficult and expensive to clear. Keep a container near the stove for used cooking oil and dispose of it with your regular garbage.
2. Use Basket Strainers in Every Drain
Install basket strainers in your kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, and shower drains to catch hair, soap scum, and food debris before they enter your pipes. Empty them regularly — ideally after every few uses — so debris does not accumulate and work its way deeper into your drain lines. This one small habit can dramatically reduce the number of clogs you deal with over the years.
3. Skip Harsh Chemical Drain Cleaners
It is tempting to reach for a bottle of chemical drain cleaner when a drain slows down, but these products can be hard on your pipes, especially older ones. They may also fail to address the root cause of the clog. Instead, try a drain snake or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for minor blockages. For persistent clogs, call a licensed plumber who can clear the line properly without damaging your plumbing.
4. Watch What You Flush
Your toilet is designed to handle toilet paper and human waste — nothing else. Wipes, paper towels, cotton balls, dental floss, and hygiene products can all cause serious blockages even when they are labeled as flushable. These items do not break down the way toilet paper does and can accumulate in your sewer line over time. Keep a small waste bin in the bathroom to make it easy to dispose of these items properly.
5. Know Where Your Shut-Off Valves Are
Every homeowner should know the location of the main water shut-off valve for their home. In an emergency — a burst pipe, a failed appliance connection, or a major leak — being able to shut off the water quickly can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage. Walk through your home and locate the shut-off valves for your toilets, sinks, and appliances as well. Label them if needed so anyone in the household can find them fast.
6. Test for Hidden Toilet Leaks
A running toilet can waste hundreds of litres of water per day without making much noise. To check for a silent leak, drop a few drops of food colouring into your toilet tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If colour appears in the bowl, water is leaking past the flapper valve. This is usually an inexpensive fix — a new flapper costs just a few dollars — but catching it early saves you money on your water bill.
7. Insulate Pipes Before Winter
Alberta winters are harsh, and frozen pipes are a real risk in unheated spaces like garages, crawl spaces, and exterior walls. Pipe insulation foam is inexpensive and easy to install. Before temperatures drop, disconnect and drain your outdoor garden hoses, shut off the exterior hose bibs from inside the house, and keep your home heated to at least 16°C even when you are away. A burst pipe from freezing can cause significant water damage in a very short time.
8. Check Under Sinks Regularly
Make it a habit to open the cabinet under your kitchen and bathroom sinks every month or two and look for signs of moisture — water stains, soft cabinet floors, or a musty smell. Small drips from supply lines or drain connections often go unnoticed for months and can cause mould growth and wood rot. Catching a slow leak early is a simple repair; catching it late can mean cabinet replacement and mould remediation.
9. Do Not Ignore Slow Drains
A drain that is slow to empty is telling you something. It may be a partial clog forming in the line, a venting issue, or early signs of a more significant blockage deeper in the system. Addressing a slow drain early — with a drain snake or a professional cleaning — is far less disruptive and less expensive than dealing with a fully blocked drain or a sewage backup.
10. Schedule Annual Plumbing Inspections
Just like your furnace benefits from a yearly tune-up, your plumbing system benefits from periodic professional inspection. A licensed plumber can check water pressure, inspect visible supply and drain lines, test shut-off valves, and identify small issues before they become big ones. For homes in Airdrie, Calgary, Cochrane, and surrounding communities, Monty's Plumbing & Heating offers reliable service from experienced, licensed technicians.
Need a Hand?
Give Monty's Plumbing & Heating a call to keep everything flowing smoothly. We provide dependable plumbing and heating service for Airdrie, Calgary, Cochrane, Crossfield, Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds, Beiseker, Irricana, and Rocky View County. Whether it is a stubborn clog, a leaking pipe, or a full plumbing inspection, our team is ready to help.