If you’re a homeowner, you might be surprised about how many simple tricks can be done to your plumbing system that will really improve its upkeep. Granted, nobody wants to snake a toilet at the end of a long day at the office, nor does anyone want to have their weekend consumed installing a sink when the day would be better spent at the park with the family. Sometimes it’s simply convenient to rely on local LA plumbers when you have a big job to do. But there are simple steps you can do every day to your own system that will minimize the times you’ll have to contact local plumbers in LA for really big jobs.

Clogs can result from either having a large object or multiple objects stuck in your pipes, leaving you standing in a lake every time you take a shower or discovering an ocean when you wander into the basement. Sometimes, the clog can result from an issue you have little control over, but more often than not, it’s because there’s something in your pipes that simply shouldn’t be there. By just preventing clogs, you avoid a slew of problems that would require services from local LA plumbers, costing you money from issues you can quickly take care of yourself.

One of the surest ways to avoid clogs is to never flush anything down the toilet but human waste and toilet paper. Kids especially should be warned. A GI Joe is no American hero if he completely ruins your plumbing line.

Don’t mistake your garbage disposal for a garbage can. Never put anything fibrous, greasy or non-biodegradable down your garbage disposal, and always run water whenever you are using it. Keep water running for 15 seconds both before and after using the disposal.

Install grates in your shower drains to catch hair. You’d be surprised how much of your hair ends up clogged in your pipes.

A root control product should be regularly flushed down your pipes, especially if you’ve had root problems before. Most local plumbers in LA specialize in root removal and should be able to recommend a qualified brand of root control.

By following these simple steps, you’ll maintain your plumbing system and minimize the times you need to call in the professionals. The better you maintain and treat your system, the longer your pipes will last and the fewer service calls you’ll need.