Avoid discarding any clogging materials into sinks and toilet bowls. Do not pour grease down your drain and remove hair and lint from sinks to avoid clogging.

To prevent the build up of residual grease and soap, perform a simple monthly maintenance routine; run hot water through drain, add three tablespoons of washing soda, add a little hot water, let stand for 15 minutes; then flush by running water. Do not use lye or its derivative with plastic piping.

It is possible that the outlet from your dishwasher empties into your garbage disposal. Do not permit the accumulation of food in the garbage disposal to cause a blockage when operating your dishwasher. If your garbage disposal becomes blocked when grinding food waste, consult the manufacturer's maintenance manuals - normally there is a reset button located on the disposal.

To properly maintain the garbage disposal:

• Do not load the disposal before starting.
• Do not use commercial drain products.
• Use cold water at all times when the disposal is operating.
• Grind ice cubes to clean, lemon peels to sweeten.
• Check and tighten drain trap connections as may be necessary after frequent use.
• During freezing weather, frost-proof faucets are not frost-proof unless hoses and other appliances are disconnected prior to freezing weather. The most common cause of burst water pipes is a frozen frost-proof faucet which has not been allowed to drain properly.
• Prior to winter freeze up, turn off the appropriate knobs that have been pre-marked for you, and were demonstrated during the New Home Walk - Through Orientation of your home.

Your hot water tank has a 40-gallon capacity. When the forty gallons of hot water is used, you must wait for forty more gallons of fresh water to be heated. Drain your hot water tank once a year as part of your regular maintenance.

If you install a water softener, immediately remove the aerators for all of your faucets. Turn on all faucets and outside sillcocks and allow the water to run about 15 minutes to flush out any solder and flux from the system. [top]

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