.2512180732030.jpg)
A new year means new beginnings—and it’s the perfect time to commit to a healthier, clog-free plumbing system! At Mr. Drain Plumbing, we’re all about keeping your water flowing freely and helping our neighbors in Carmichael and the surrounding Sacramento areas avoid those messy, stressful emergencies.
Making a few simple changes can prevent frustrating (and expensive!) problems. Ready to make 2026 your best plumbing year yet? Here are our top 5 New Year's resolutions for a happy, healthy home plumbing system!
Is a leaky faucet or stubborn clog already ruining your day? Don't wait until it becomes a disaster! Call us right now at (530) 658-0972 or fill out our online contact form to schedule fast, friendly service!
1. Stop the Sink Abuse: Kitchen Clog Prevention
The Goal: No more kitchen clogs! Grease and coffee grounds are the enemy.
The kitchen sink is one of the busiest drains in your home, and it takes a lot of abuse. The biggest culprits for stubborn clogs are grease, oil, and fatty foods (like turkey skin or bacon grease). When they cool, they solidify in your pipes and act like glue, trapping everything else.
Actionable Tips for a Clear Kitchen Drain:
Wipe, Don't Wash: Before rinsing, use a paper towel to wipe greasy pots, pans, and plates directly into the trash.
Keep Grease Out: Pour cooled cooking oil/grease into an old jar or can, seal it, and throw it in the garbage. Never pour it down the drain.
Garbage Disposal Do's and Don'ts: Your disposal is for small amounts of soft food, not an alternative to the trash can. Avoid putting coffee grounds, pasta, rice, potato peels, and fibrous vegetables like celery down it.
2. Flush with Care: Protect Your Toilet and Sewer Line
The Goal: Keep your toilet happy and your septic/sewer line clear.
The only things that should ever be flushed down your toilet are human waste and toilet paper. We see costly blockages almost daily from items that claim to be "flushable" but aren't!
Actionable Tips for a Happy Toilet:
The "Unflushables" List: This is critical! Keep a small trash can next to the toilet for things like:
Wipes (even "flushable" ones!)
Paper towels and tissues
Feminine hygiene products
Dental floss
Cotton balls and Q-tips
Use Less TP (Sometimes): While toilet paper is safe, using excessive amounts can still lead to a jam. Be mindful, especially if you have older or low-flow plumbing.
Considering a sewer line repair or replacement? Learn more about our specialized approach to Sewer Line Services.
3. Master Your Main Shut-Off Valve
The Goal: Prevent catastrophic flood damage.
In a plumbing emergency—like a burst pipe or a rapidly overflowing toilet—every second counts. Knowing how to quickly shut off your home’s main water supply is the difference between a small leak and thousands of dollars in water damage.
Actionable Tips to Become the Shut-Off Master:
Locate It Now: Find your main water shut-off valve today. It’s often in the garage, basement, or outside near your water meter.
Test and Tag It: Make sure it turns easily. If it’s stuck, give us a call! Label it clearly with a tag so everyone in the house knows exactly where it is.
Educate the Household: Teach every adult (and responsible teen) in your home where the valve is and how to operate it.
4. Give Your Water Heater a Break (and Maintenance)
The Goal: Extend the life of your unit and save on energy bills.
Your water heater is one of the hardest-working appliances, and it requires basic annual maintenance to run efficiently and safely. Over time, sediment (mineral deposits) builds up on the bottom, which reduces efficiency and can damage the tank.
Actionable Tips for Water Heater Health:
Flush Annually: Commit to having your water heater professionally drained and flushed once a year. This removes sediment and keeps the heating element working properly.
Check the T&P Valve: The Temperature and Pressure Relief (T&P) valve is a crucial safety feature. It needs to be tested occasionally to ensure it opens when needed. This is best left to a professional plumber.
Lower the Temp: Set your water heater thermostat to 120°F to save energy, reduce mineral buildup, and prevent accidental scalding.
5. Stay on Top of Slow Leaks
The Goal: Reduce water waste and avoid mold/mildew issues.
A slow leak may seem harmless, but a dripping faucet or a running toilet wastes hundreds of gallons of water per year and can lead to costly structural damage, mold growth, and high water bills.
Actionable Tips to Catch Hidden Leaks:
The Food Coloring Test: Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color seeps into the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
Check Your Bill: If your water bill suddenly spikes without a change in usage, it’s a big red flag for a hidden underground or slab leak.
Be Vigilant: Make it a habit to check under all sink cabinets for drips or moisture, and listen for the sound of running water when all appliances are off.
Ready for a Smooth 2026? We're Here to Help!
Making these 5 resolutions part of your home maintenance routine will go a long way in preventing plumbing headaches. But if a pipe bursts, a drain clogs, or you need professional help achieving your plumbing goals, the friendly experts at Mr. Drain Plumbing are ready to serve the Carmichael, Sacramento, and surrounding communities.
Don't let a small issue turn into a disaster! Reach out to us for reliable, customer-focused plumbing services today. You can contact us through our online contact form or give us a call directly at (530) 658-0972.
