Some preventative maintenance tips

Perhaps no other room in your house uses more water than your bathroom and it goes without saying that maintaining a good water supply to your bathroom is essential.

Here’s some tips and tricks to maintain a healthy plumbing system and prevent expensive repairs.

The shower

It’s important to give your shower system a little TLC every now and then. A good way of doing this is by removing the shower head and leaving it in a bowl of vinegar overnight. In the morning you can scrub off any flaking limescale deposits, reattach it and let the water run for a little while to get rid of any vinegar. If your shower does become blocked, then follow our advice on how to clear a blocked shower.

Taps

It’s a good idea to check your taps regularly, particularly in bathrooms that aren’t used that often. Make sure water flows freely from the moment you turn the tap on. Problems such as obstructions or frozen pipes can cause expensive damage if they go unnoticed. So if the water doesn’t flow freely from the tap, it might be time to call in a professional.

Flush unused pipes

Are there any pipes in your home that aren’t used regularly? If so, it’s a good idea to flush them out roughly once a week. You can do this simply by pouring water down them. If water isn’t flowing through the pipes frequently, you could find yourself with draining difficulties. There are steps you can take to unblock your sink, but you may need professional help if the drain is thoroughly blocked.

Insulate exposed pipes

Finally, any pipes that carry water from your bathroom to outside the house should be well insulated during the winter months. Cold snaps and prolonged winter weather can make pipes freeze and burst. This could damage your property and could be dangerous if they’re close to an electrical supply.

If you do have a problem with your plumbing, use our site to contact a local trusted engineer who can help you out, and you can relax safe in the knowledge that the work will be backed by a comprehensive British Gas guarantee.