It may seem like it's a little early to be thinking of New Year's Resolutions just yet, but the fact is we're well into December and January is just around the corner. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, 2015 will be here before you know it, so it's never too early to start thinking about some good habits you can get into to help save your plumbing, and reduce the number of times you have to call out your local licensed Olathe plumber.

1. Ditch the Drano. When the sink, toilet, or other drain gets stopped up our first instinct is to reach for a chemical solution to clean it out. The problem with that is chemical cleaners tend to just open a small hole in the blockage, not clear it completely. What's worse, many cleaners contain chemicals that can be harsh on you and on your pipes and fixtures.
2. Don't try to tackle it yourself. When something breaks down around the house, it's always tempting to try to fix the problem yourself. That may work with a lot of things, but unfortunately, when it comes to plumbing, it's easy to do a lot more harm than good. So keep the number of a licensed Olathe plumber handy in case of emergencies.
3. Don't flush it. The fact is, even if they say "flushable," most things shouldn't go down your drain. Cleaning wipes, toilet scrubbers, feminine hygiene products, make-up remover pads, cotton balls, and other objects aren't really meant to be flushed, and they don't break down fast enough to clear your pipes. And it's not enough for just you to know what can't be flushed, either—make sure everyone in the house is in on it.
4. Be good to your garbage disposal. When you think about it, garbage disposals are pretty great inventions, and most of us rely on them for all sorts of things. Unfortunately, we also tend to take them for granted. A garbage disposal is really useful, but it isn't magic, and it can't handle just anything you put down there. Avoid feeding grease (which congeals quickly once it gets cold and wet) and fibrous foods such as celery or corn husks into your garbage disposal if you want it to keep running smoothly.
5. Keep everything up to date. Like anything else, your plumbing won't last forever, so it's important to keep high-stress parts up to date. Replace the rubber hoses on your washing machine and dishwasher every five years or so, and make sure that you get your water heater inspected about once every year, and replace it when it starts to get old. In fact, it's a good idea to get your plumbing inspected regularly by a licensed Olathe plumber, who can help make sure that everything is up to snuff.

Whatever your other New Year's Resolutions this holiday season, following these handy tips will help you to keep your plumbing system doing what it does best into 2015 and beyond!

Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you're looking for a furnace tune-up in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling today!