New homeowners may often make the error of overlooking the plumbing system that provides their house with running water. Yet, the modern plumbing system is exceedingly complicated, which can make it easy for some individuals to overlook a couple of important things that they can do to help their new homes avoid crippling plumbing issues. You can use these two tips to make sure that you are prepared to keep your plumbing system safe from some potentially serious issues. 

Invest In A Drain Vacuum

Clogs are among the more common issues that your home may encounter, and in many cases, a plunger will be sufficient to get the water flowing again. However, this may not be the case if the clog is being caused by something hard that fell down a drain. These items may not be able to be forced through the pipes, and this means the plunger may only make the issue worse by lodging the object deeper in your plumbing system. 

A drain vacuum may be the best option for removing hard objects from inside your pipes. These are designed to suck out the water and objects in the drains. Unfortunately, the drain vacuum may not be able to remove objects that have already gotten lodged deep into the pipes. When this happens, a plumber can be hired to use a drain snake or strong chemicals to remove the obstruction. 

Prepare Your Water Heater For The Winter Months

The winter months can be particularly hard on the home, and this is also true for the home's water heater. During this time of year, the water entering your home is much colder than normal, and this means the water heater must work harder to heat the water to a the desired temperature. 

You can help reduce this additional wear on the water heater by thoroughly cleaning it at the start of the cold season. The cleaning will remove any sediment or residue that is on the heating element, which should help make this part heat the water more efficiently. In addition to this type of cleaning, you should consider investing in insulation for the water heater to keep drafts and low temperatures from cooling the water that is in the tank. 

Plumbing problems may be extremely disruptive to your business or home life. Realizing the benefits of investing in a drain vacuum as well as the importance of preparing your water heater for winter should make you a more aware homeowner concerning plumbing. For other problems and assistance, you can always contact professional plumbing services to help you out.