There’s never a good time for a plumbing disaster to happen. However, when they occur at inopportune moments, they’re especially problematic. The good news is that homeowners can take small steps to protect their systems and avoid emergency plumbing disasters. Here’s what you can do to prevent common issues, like clogged drains and broken pipes.

A Guide to Preventing Serious Plumbing Problems

1. Avoid Rinsing Grease

What you rinse down the drain is vital to the health of the pipes. Blockages can occur when common kitchen items—like grease, fat, and oil—are rinsed down the drain. Although you may be tempted by drain cleaning products, it’s best to have a plumber use tools to properly detect and break up the clog.

2. Protect the Pipes

When pipes aren’t properly insulated, the cold weather can easily cause them to freeze and break. That’s particularly problematic in Minnesota, so it’s worth winterizing your pipes in the offseason to avoid an emergency plumbing situation in the middle of the season.

3. Handle Leaks Quickly

Allowing a leak to continue can make the problem worse. It’s never a good idea to allow it to fester—no matter where it might be. A leaking water heater, for example, is typically a sign of failure; a leaking faucet is usually fixable if you handle it quickly enough.

4. Locate the Shutoff Valve

There are likely plenty of different valves that parent different parts of your home’s plumbing setup. You don’t need to be familiar with all of them, though; simply locating the main shutoff valve can mean the difference between major damage and a minor problem. If a frozen pipe breaks, for example, turning off the main water valve will stop the flow and protect your property from damage.

5. Call for an Inspection

There doesn’t have to be an active situation happening for a problem to be brewing somewhere in the pipes. Deal with all of the minor inconveniences before they have a chance to grow worse, like a sluggish toilet, a clogged drain, and a noisy pipe. All of these issues can transform into emergency plumbing problems if they are left to linger.

Paul Bunyan is a famous problem-solver, from clearing log jams to thawing frozen landscapes, which is why he’s recruited a team of experts at Paul Bunyan Plumbing to solve your trickiest of emergency plumbing problems. While this line of work calls for clearing pipes rather than clearing forests, this team’s skill and knowledge will manage any disaster and assure it doesn’t happen again. For more information about their full range of plumbing services, give these Twin Cities, MN, plumbers a call today at (612) 977-3053 or visit their website.