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Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist

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Monthly maintenance checklist for any houseAs the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use this monthly home maintenance checklist to stay ahead of problems around the house.

Sink Aerator and Drain Cleaning

Mineral buildup from hard water will plug up an aerator in a faucet over time. If the flow looks irregular, this is most likely the problem. Remove the end cap of the faucet, pull out the aerator, and clean it with a nylon brush. Use water and vinegar to help remove the buildup.

While cleaning the faucets, dump a couple cups vinegar down each sink and tub drain. The vinegar will help to break down any buildup in the pipes to help prevent drain clogs. Drop a half cup of baking soda down the drain first for slow draining sinks or tubs. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and create a more powerful effect. Use a pot of boiling water to flush the mixture and other debris through. The same steps can be used to fix a clog.

Sink and Faucet Cleaning

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Sink and faucet aerator maintenance cleaning checklist

Mineral Problems

An often overlooked task is a thorough sink and faucet cleaning for maintenance. Over time hard water leaves deposits of minerals that can create problems. It is a good idea to schedule a monthly cleaning for the faucet aerator and drain for each sink.

Faucet Aerator

The aerator is located on the end of the faucet and dramatically improves the efficiency of water use. The mineral deposits slowly plug the small pores of the aerator and constrict flow. A key indication of this problem is sinks that spray abnormal directions or have a hard time forming a steady flow.

Start the cleaning process by unscrewing the end of the faucet. It should come off in three pieces: end cap, aerator, and gasket. Remove the gasket, clean it with water only, and set it to the side. Clean the aerator with a nylon brush and vinegar. Clean the end cap with a homemade cleaning solution of vinegar and water. Wash the aerator and end cap off with water and put the pieces back in place.

Fixing a Drain or Toilet Clog

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Clogs are inevitable problem for most homes. Some clogs happen immediately. Others slowly restrict pipes until it is completely blocked. The best clog (if there is such a thing!) is located in the p-trap. It is the one place where you know the problem can fixed without any extensive measures.

Clog Fixes

Start by placing a bucket under the trap. Loosen the coupling nuts with a pliers and pull the trap off while being careful to dump all water into the bucket. Then push the clog through with a coat hanger and flush with water. Before putting the piping back together, check the washers and nuts to see if they need to be replaced. Put the p-trap back into place and hand tighten the nuts. Over tightening nuts with a pliers will strip the threads. Turn on the water and check for leaks. Tighten the nuts slightly with a pliers until all leaks disappear.

Home drain cleaner to deal with clogsIf the clog isn’t in the p-trap, it is probably in a drain pipe. There are 3 measures you can take to fix a clog in a drain pipe before resorting to calling in a plumber: homemade vinegar cleaner, plumbing snake, and commercial drain cleaner. The vinegar cleaner is a concoction of household products. First, dump some baking soda down the drain. Then dump a couple cups of vinegar down the drain and cover the opening. The mix should react and create a fizzing effect. Lastly, pour approximately half a gallon of boiling water down the drain to help flush the clog.

The next possible fix is to break down the clog with a plumbing snake. A snake can be purchased at any local hardware store and is a good tool to have at your disposal. After breaking down a clog with a snake, wash what remains of the clog down with a combination of vinegar and boiling water.

If the clog is out of the reach of a snake, the next option is a commercial drain cleaner. Find the product that you feel suits your situation best and follow the instructions. If this doesn’t work and you know the problem is in the drain pipe, it is probably time to call a plumber. Also, if water is draining slowly in all bathrooms and the kitchen, the problem is probably is the main sewer line and will require a plumber.