The unglamorous life of a sink drain is often forgotten but so important to getting used water from our home into the sewer lines. Don't put garbage, debris such as produce stickers, animal bones, vegetable peels, and etc down the drain because it could become clogged or worse, break the drain which can be costly for you to have a plumber repair. If you have a garbage disposal, avoid fibrous food, coffee grounds or hard substances of any type because they are not meant to be in the sink drain. Grease is another thing to avoid because it can solidify and cause a backup. Getting your drains cleaned out by a plumber once or twice a year is a good idea to avoid emergency backups.

Water conservation tips for the summer from a plumbers point of view. Not letting the water run while brushing your teeth, doing dishes by dishwasher and not by hand, put sprinklers on a timer, take car to professional as we tend to waste water DIY at home, check for leaks around house and the sprinkler system, and replace appliances with WaterSense label which is a low flow system that conserves water.

Seven plumbing tips for first time homeowners are to know the location of your shut off valve in case of a leak/emergency so you can shut water off. Next is to know what things for a toilet you can DIY and what to call a plumber for. Changing the flapper and cartridge are easy but anything else shouldn't be attempted as it can cause worse/more expensive problems. Learn what is flushable and what's not. Basically only toilet paper should go down the pipes. Wipes, cotton balls, q-tips, grease and etc. shouldn't be flushed. It can cause expensive damage. Septic tanks are highly sensitive and could wreak havoc on your home/yard if not routinely maintenanced. Watch for "fertilized" lawn from sewage fertilizer or wetness in home. Plumbers tape/thread tape can be great if a small leak appears after changing a fixture/pipe. Wrap it at least 3x counterclockwise and it can be found at your local hardware store. Last, only hand tighten plumbing fixtures. "Hand tight is just right."