Essential Dos and Don’ts of Shower Maintenance
If you are like most people, you don’t spend much time thinking about how your shower works. You know how it works: You turn on the water, you adjust the water temperature, take your shower, and then turn off the water. It’s simple enough – until the shower doesn’t work. At The Stanley Louis Company we can provide comprehensive services to ensure that when you turn on the hot water, hot water comes out. However, the following tips can help you keep the shower itself in great shape.
DO: Cover Your Shower Drain
Your shower drain likely includes a strainer but you should not consider that to be enough to catch everything. If it is like most strainers, it likely has large holes, slots, gaps, or other areas that can allow hair and all sorts of debris to get through. Add a cover to catch everything that would otherwise stop up your drain.
DON’T: Take on Shower Unclogging Yourself
If your shower is clogged, you should leave the unclogging process to the professionals. You may have short-term success trying to take care of it yourself but in the long-run you could be making the problem worse. Save time and money by calling in a plumber right away. More important, avoid the chemical cleaners that are actually dangerous to you, your pipes, and the environment.
DO: Clean Your Shower Often
When you think of things that clog your shower drain, you likely think of larger pieces of debris or hair. The truth is that most products used in the shower have film that can coat the inside of your plumbing – and eventually this can lead your drain to slow to a stop. Clean your shower on a regular basis so that you do not have excessive soapy buildup to deal with.
DON’T: Ignore Hard Water
Hard water is water that has extra minerals in it. If it has too much magnesium or calcium, it will leave behind reside that can dry your skin, leave a residue, and even damage your boiler. We recommend using a water softener to keep your skin healthy, prevent clogs caused by residue, and to protect your water heater.
DO: Pay Attention to Low Pressure
If you are like most homeowners, you think of low water pressure as aggravating but otherwise harmless. The truth is that it can be a symptom of a much larger problem. If you experience water pressure that is much lower than usual, you should call a plumber right away.
DON’T: Let a Leak Continue
If you are experiencing any type of plumbing leak then you should immediately call a plumber. Even if it seems minor, remember that there is an entire maze of pipes behind your walls. Waiting to treat the problem can cause long-term, expensive damage to your home.
At The Stanley Louis Company we can’t help with your shower but we can help keep the water hot. Call us at 800-217-6527 for help with your water heater.
