Most of the time, we start a new year with plenty of resolutions to change or improve our lives, but this blog post is about being more responsible, especially when it comes to your plumbing system. Many plumbing problems can be avoided with a little discipline.

Stop abusing your toilet. The only thing you should be flushing down the toilet is toilet paper. Anything else can cause clogs, especially baby wipes, floss, Q-tips and sanitary products. Dispose of these in the trash can rather than flush them down the toilet.
Watch what goes into your garbage disposal. Fats, oils and fibrous foods like celery, corn husks and onions can play havoc with your disposal. Be sure to always run cold water when the disposal is in use. Keep bones and anything not biodegradable out of it entirely.
Insulate your pipes that are close to the outside or in crawl spaces. When we do have cold weather , exposed pipes can freeze and burst. This mishap can be easily avoided by wrapping your exposed pipes in insulation. It’s inexpensive and easy to install, and it’s worth your time to get this done.
Schedule a check up with your plumber. If you’ve gone five years or more without having a plumbing inspection, you’re probably running on borrowed time. Give us a call at Richie’s Plumbing to keep your plumbing maintained, 504-241-1556.

There are plenty of other things you can do to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape, but these are a good start. Happy New Year from all of us at Richie’s Plumbing.