Area of Home

Plumbing - Pipes and Drains

Your plumbing system has been installed and tested by professionals so that it is in proper working order before you move into your home. Pipes and drains should not require routine maintenance unless clogs or backups in the main lines occur.


Care and Maintenance Tips Drain Traps

  • Each plumbing fixture in your home has a drain “trap”, a curved piece of drain pipe designed to provide a water barrier between your home and the possible odor of sewer gas. This “trap” holds water which prevents the airborne bacteria and odor of the sewer gas from entering the home.
  • If a plumbing fixture is left unused, it should be turned on at regular intervals to replace evaporating water and to ensure that the trap barrier remains intact.

Operation

  • To help maintain good working order of your drain systems, avoid allowing grease, hair and other trash from going into the drains.
  • These items can block drains and cause backups in the main sewer lines.

Removing the drain stopper assembly to clear clogs

  • Hold on to the base and twist the top cap off.
  • Under the top cap is a copper bolt that can be loosened with a pair of pliers.
  • Once the bolt is loose, remove the entire stopper assembly (be careful not to drop the washer).
  • You will then be able to see the crossbars and clean the hair out of the drain.

Repairing Clogs

  • If a clog occurs, you may attempt to free the clog with the use of a commercial clog clearing product available at any local hardware store.
  • Check the bottle of the product to make sure that it is safe for plastic drain pipes.
  • Tub drains are more susceptible to clogs due to long hair getting caught on the crossbars beneath the drain stopper.





* If you are in a Condo residence please refer to your Condo Association Documents to verify your responsibilities, if any, for the maintenance of these areas.