Three Plumbing Checks A Chicago Plumber Recommends, Testing Emergency Shut Off Valves, Flushing The Water Heater Yearly And Fixing A Running Toilet Flapper

Winter is coming, and a Chicago plumber has a short list of things to do now so you do not end up calling him in a panic later. His “plumber tip of the day” covers the emergency shut off valves, the water heater, a running toilet and more.

A plumber in a blue shirt at a desk on the left, and old pipes running along a dim basement wall on the right, illustrating three plumbing checks a Chicago plumber recommends.

The advice comes from @goodcalljbp, a plumber serving the Chicago area. It is quick and practical, and every point costs little or nothing to follow.

@goodcalljbp

Test Your Emergency Shut Off Valves Before You Need Them

The first tip is to test your emergency shut off valves to make sure they are functioning. That means finding them and trying them while nothing is wrong.

The reason is simple. If a pipe bursts or a supply line fails, you want to stop the water in seconds. A valve that has not been turned in years can stick or leak when you finally need it.

Most homes have a main shutoff plus smaller valves under sinks and behind toilets. Find yours, turn them gently, and make sure everyone in the house knows where the main is.

Flush The Water Heater At Least Once A Year

Next, the plumber says to make sure you flush your water heater at least once a year. It is easy to forget, because the heater sits in a basement or closet and does its job quietly.

Over time, sediment can build up in a tank-style heater. Manufacturers generally recommend draining or flushing the tank periodically, so check your owner’s manual for the steps for your model.

If you are not comfortable doing it, a plumber can handle it during a routine visit. Put the date on your calendar so it does not get skipped.

A Running Toilet Usually Means “Check The Flapper”

If your toilet is running, he says, check the flapper. That is the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank that drops after each flush.

When it wears out, water can slip through, and the toilet may keep refilling. It is one of the cheaper repairs in the house, and a good first place to look before you assume something bigger is wrong.

The tip fits what plumbers see all the time: a small worn part causing a steady waste of water you pay for.

“Flushable Wipes Are Not Flushable”

His next line is the one many homeowners need to hear: flushable wipes are not flushable. He says it flat, with no softening.

Wipes marked as flushable often do not break down the way toilet paper does, and plumbers regularly pull them out of clogged lines. Toss them in the trash instead, even when the package says otherwise.

It is a free fix. Keep a small wastebasket next to the toilet and you may avoid a service call entirely.

Detach Garden Hoses Before The Cold Hits

Because it is getting cold out, he says to detach all your garden hoses from your hose bibs. The point is to prevent frozen and burst pipes.

A hose left attached can hold water in the faucet, and that water can freeze. This is a simple chore that takes a few minutes, and it is best done before the first hard freeze arrives.

Drain and store the hoses while you are at it, so they last longer too.

A Reminder To Join The No Drip Club

The plumber also says to “join the No Drip Club,” his shop’s way of encouraging homeowners to catch leaks and drips early.

The idea is a good one for any household. A drip is easy to ignore, but it often points to a worn part, and it wastes water around the clock.

Plumbers see the same preventable problems every cold season. Frozen outdoor faucets, clogged lines and sticking valves are all things a homeowner can head off with a little attention.

Make it a family routine. Pick one weekend each fall, walk through the house and the yard, and tick each item off. Write down the date you flushed the heater so next year you know when it is due.

If a valve will not turn, or you notice a drip you cannot trace, that is the time to bring in a licensed plumber, before the cold weather turns a small issue into a big one.

Your Quick Pre-Winter Plumbing Checklist

Put the plumber’s points on one list and you can finish most of it in an afternoon.

Test each emergency shut off valve and make sure it moves freely.
Flush the water heater, at least once a year.
Check the flapper if a toilet is running.
Skip the flushable wipes and use the trash can.
Take the hoses off the outdoor faucets before freezing weather.

His closing words are short: “Do better.” For homeowners, that means paying attention to the small things in the house that tend to fail at the worst moment. A few minutes now can save a flooded floor later, and a lot of money.

Willow and Hearth