Virtually all American homeowners rely heavily on their plumbing systems for a variety of crucial household needs, including the water used for drinking, food preparation, bathing, clothes washing and waste removal. Unless they’re kept in sound working condition, these systems can develop a range of problems that make them work less efficiently or fail altogether. And when plumbing systems break down, the cost of any required repairs can easily add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Fortunately, you can minimize your chances of developing serious plumbing problems if you follow some basic maintenance principles. Here are five of the most important maintenance steps to keep in mind.

Step 1: Get Familiar With Your Plumbing System

One of the best things you can do for the long-term health of your plumbing system is to learn how that system works, both in general and in your home in particular. Familiarity with the basic principles of plumbingwill give you the broad perspective you need to understand what can go wrong in any system. Familiarity with the details of the plumbing setup in your home will alert you to specific issues or factors that may not apply equally to all households.

You can learn about plumbing basics from a number of reputable, free resources available online or at your local library. Ask your local plumber about the details of your household system the next time you need repair work or professional service. In addition to showing you how your system works, an expert can explain the problems most likely to affect your particular plumbing setup.

Step 2: Inspect Your Plumbing Regularly!

Periodic inspection of the various parts of your plumbing system creates a much-needed baseline for your regular maintenance routine. A thorough checkup will provide you with a fairly comprehensive picture of the health of each system component. It will also give you a valuable heads-up on any specific issues you need to keep your eye on in the future.

Start your inspection by looking for signs of leaks in all of your home’s exposed plumbing lines, including the pipes on your toilets and the pipes beneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks. If your system has brass or copper fittings, check these connection points for any indications of corrosion. You can gauge the health of your toilets by looking for floor-level leaks and listening for the telltale sound of running water between flushes. Observation of the amount of time it takes for your sinks to drain can alert you to the presence of any developing clogs. You can assess the state of your water pressure by opening each of your household taps one by one and checking the flow rate.

Step 3: Don’t Ignore Small Problems

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s quite easy to ignore small plumbing issues such as a leaking faucet or a constantly running toilet. However, even these seemingly minor problems can lead to big problems not too far down the line. For example, that leaking faucet can precede much more serious issues with corrosion, as well as provide an excellent breeding ground for mold and mildew. If your toilet continually runs between flushes, you can waste a huge amount of water and set yourself up for higher monthly utility costs.

Step 4: Learn How to Do Minor Work Yourself

If you have major plumbing problems such as a burst pipe or corroded pipes, only a well-trained professional has the expertise required to swiftly and reliably return your system to good working order. You can also call on a professional when you experience less serious issues such as toilet blockages, clogged drains or sticky valves. However, if you’re familiar with plumbing basics and the quirks of your particular system, you can also take care of many relatively minor problems yourself.

Common equipment in a do-it-yourself plumbing kit includes a well-designed plunger, an adjustable pipe wrench, a drain stick and a plumbing snake. These items can help you deal effectively with most common issues you’re likely to encounter. You can learn sound DIY plumbing practices from a variety of reputable sources, including seminars conducted at home improvement stores, how-to books, classes offered by your local community college and Internet guides posted by professionals with verifiable training and experience.

Step 5: Don’t Rely on Chemical Remedies for Clogs

Television, the Internet and various forms of print media often feature advertisements for drain-cleaning products such as Drano and Liquid-Plumr. For many people, these products are a go-to option for dealing with clogged household pipes. However, while the powerful chemicals found in many drain cleaners can effectively clear many types of clogs, they can also eat away at the cast-iron drainpipes that connect your home’s plumbing to the municipal system in your area. In many cases, chemical cleaners still don’t entirely eliminate drain clogs. Such a scenario can encourage the repeated use of these cleaners and lead to a significant worsening of the damage to your drainpipes.

As an alternative to chemical drain cleaners, you may want to try another group of products known as enzymatic drain cleaners. All products in this category omit harsh chemicals and derive their clog-busting ability from a combination of enzymes and bacteria that naturally eat away at the substances that form household clogs. In addition to posing less of a threat to your cast-iron drainpipes, enzymatic drain cleaners don’t pose as much of a long-term environmental risk as the active ingredients found in a typical chemical drain cleaner. If your household experiences severe or recurring clogs, you may also want to get a professional plumber to completely clear the affected drain(s).

Use Your Plumbing Professional as a Resource

If you have any questions about establishing an effective maintenance routine for your household, a plumbing professional in your area can answer those questions and help you address any specific problems you’re facing. A professional can also help you determine when problems go beyond the limits of DIY maintenance and call for skilled intervention. Of course, a plumbing professional can also carry out a maintenance program if you’re too busy or simply have no interest in performing this type of work yourself.