Household Tips: How to Plan for Healthy New Year
Has the New Year brought about some resolutions for better living? Are you determined to eat healthier and exercise more? There's another facet of healthy living that gets too frequently forgotten. That's making sure that your water supply and plumbing system is delivering clean, safe water in your home.
Water Filtration
The first step in ensuring your water is clean and free from harmful contaminants is to have a water filtration system installed. Reverse osmosis and carbon filter models can virtually eliminate contaminants and chemicals like lead, aluminum, arsenic, and others that may be found in your city's water supply.
A whole-home water filtration system is even more important if you're on a well. Since your water doesn't get tested as frequently, it is prone to contaminants entering the water table like pesticides from nearby fields and gardens.
Clean Out Your Faucets
Those same bits of lead that have come loose in your pipes can also make their way to your kitchen and bathroom faucets. There, they can get stuck in the aerator’s fine mesh. There have been known cases of lead poisoning caused by this phenomenon.You can clean out the aerator by removing it using a pair of pliers or a wrench.
Take the aerator apart (don't forget how it goes back together again), and gently scrub the wire mesh with a brush. It's also a good idea to soak the pieces in vinegar to dissolve any mineral buildup that has accumulated. You can then reassemble the aerator and install it again on the tap.
Flush Your Water Heater
If your water heater is more than a few years old, it has probably accumulated some sediment along the bottom of the tank. This grit and dirt that has settled inside the tank robs it of its efficiency making it consume more energy.
It can also represent a health hazard if contaminants like bits of lead have come away from your plumbing and settled in the tank.
To empty your tank, shut off the water supply valve, turn the tank off, and attach a garden hose to the drain valve near the bottom. Place the other end of the hose in a place where the water can flow safely.
Open the drain valve to empty the tank. You can also open some taps in your home to speed up the process. Once the tank is empty, briefly turn the cold water supply back on to stir up remaining sediment. Repeat this step until the water comes out clear. You can then close the drain valve refill the tank and turn the heater back on.
In the Green Bay, WI area, no one takes the safety of your water more seriously than the folks at Vern Kummers Plumbing. To schedule an appointment with one of our experienced professionals, call 920-468-8756 today.
