Although it's very hard to practise any home maintenance on water lines, De Ruyck says there are things people can do to help maintain their drains and water heaters.
"People can have their drains regularly cleared with cables from a drain company," De Ruyck says. "Or there are bio-enzyme drain cleaners that are drain-safe and non-toxic, and they will help keep drains clear. And if you keep the buildup out of old (cast-iron or galvanized-steel) drains, that's less moisture that's sitting in them that can rust them out."
Bio-enzyme drain cleaners are much better to use on drains than caustic drain cleaners, which can actually damage drains, De Ruyck says. The bio-enzyme cleaners should be used once a month on all kinds of drains in bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
"The best way to do it is just jot down on your calendar every fourth Sunday, 'Drain maintenance,' and it takes you about four or five minutes," De Ruyck says.
"You just mix up your solution and pour a little bit in each drain and away you go."
Flushing agent
There is also a way to help maintain water heaters, De Ruyck says. Residents should just attach a piece of garden hose to the drain at the bottom of their water heater, place the other end of the hose in a floor drain, and then turn the drain tap on. Cold water flowing into the tank will serve as a flushing agent and will get rid of much of the residue at the bottom of the tank.
After five minutes of flushing, residents just need to turn the drain tap off. A water heater should be flushed every six months but should never be drained completely, De Ruyck says. Most hot water heaters are glass-lined, and cold water flowing into an empty tank can cause a hot liner to crack and leak.
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