DIY Plumbing Tips
Simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself to keep your plumbing running smoothly — and avoid expensive repair calls.
Pipes in unheated spaces like garages, crawl spaces, and exterior walls are the first to freeze. Wrap them with foam pipe insulation — it costs a few dollars at any hardware store and takes about 20 minutes. Focus on pipes within 6 inches of an exterior wall first.
Before temps drop below freezing, turn off the interior shutoff valve that feeds each outdoor spigot, then open the spigot outside to drain any remaining water. Leaving water trapped in the line is one of the most common causes of burst pipes in Minnesota homes.
On nights below 10°F, open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls. This lets warm air from your home circulate around the pipes. It sounds too simple, but it genuinely prevents freezing — especially in older Hastings homes with less wall insulation.
Shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets can seize up if they're never turned. Once a year, turn each valve fully off and back on. If it's stiff or won't budge, that's a sign it needs replacing before you actually need it in an emergency.
Pour a bucket of water into the sump pit and watch the pump kick on and drain it. Do this in late February or early March — before snowmelt season hits. If it doesn't run, check the float switch first. A failed sump pump during spring thaw can mean thousands in basement water damage.
Every adult in your household should be able to find and turn off the main water shutoff within 60 seconds. In most Hastings homes it's near the water meter in the basement or utility room. Label it clearly. In a burst pipe emergency, every second counts.
Sediment builds up at the bottom of tank water heaters over time, reducing efficiency and shortening the unit's life. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve, run it to a floor drain, and flush until the water runs clear. Takes about 20 minutes and can add years to your heater's life.
Most water heaters ship set to 140°F, which wastes energy and increases scalding risk. 120°F is the sweet spot — hot enough to kill bacteria, cool enough to be safe and efficient. Check the dial on the side of your tank and adjust if needed.
Drop a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank. Don't flush. Wait 15 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, your flapper is leaking — silently wasting up to 200 gallons a day. A replacement flapper costs about $5 and takes 10 minutes to swap.
Hair is the number one cause of shower drain clogs. A simple mesh strainer catches it before it reaches the trap. Clean it weekly. This one $3 item can save you from a slow drain or a service call — it's the easiest preventive maintenance you can do.
Cooking grease solidifies as it cools and coats the inside of your drain pipes. Over time it narrows the pipe and traps food particles. Pour grease into an old can or jar, let it solidify, and throw it in the trash. Your pipes will thank you.
Open the cabinet under every sink once a month and look for water stains, soft spots in the cabinet floor, or any moisture around the supply lines and P-trap. Catching a slow drip early costs almost nothing to fix. Left alone, it can rot the cabinet and subfloor.
Some jobs are best left to a licensed plumber. We're always happy to take a look — free estimates, no pressure.
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