Plumbing: Improve Your Home's Sustainability With These Projects

It's easy to forget about your plumbing as you are planning your home improvement and maintenance schedule. With pipes tucked away behind your walls and generally functioning as they should be, they are often overlooked. However, it's important to consider home improvement projects that will protect and enhance your plumbing, as this will ensure that everything is always running smoothly — quite literally — and your home maintains its value.

Here are some plumbing home improvement projects to consider:

Add Insulation to Your Pipes

Foam insulation can be installed on top of the water pipes in your home to prevent heat from escaping the pipes. Foam insulation not only helps you enjoy a warm shower in a shorter amount of time, but it also will reduce your energy costs and decrease the amount of water that you use inside your home. It is a cheap, easy and sustainable home improvement project that will improve your plumbing.

Install a New Toilet

If your toilet is more than 10 or 15 years old, then it may be time to consider replacing it. An old, out-of-date toilet is going to be less efficient than the newer models, and is going to put more strain on your drains. A low-flush toilet will save you money and reduce your water consumption, all while preserving your pipes.

Caulk the Bathtub

The caulk around the tub may deteriorate with time, so it's important to re-caulk the tub every once in a while. This will prevent water from seeping into the caulk and building up underneath the tub

Fix Broken Pipes as Quickly as Possible

When you address a leaking pipe quickly, you will prevent significant damage from occurring in your home. In some cases, you can patch the pipe, but if the break is more severe, a plumber may need to fix the pipe for you.

Fix a Leaky Faucet

A leaky faucet in the kitchen or bathroom may not seem like a big deal, but you lose a lot of water with those constant drips and drops. By fixing a leaky faucet, you reduce your water consumption and prevent further issues with your plumbing.

Most of these projects are simple and affordable improvements that will help you protect the plumbing in your home. By preserving your plumbing, you will continue adding value to your home while simultaneously preventing an emergency situation from occurring in the future.