The more informed homeowners are about the condition and the maintenance needs of their plumbing fixtures, the better they can take care of plumbing fixtures in their home.

The following are six basic things any homeowner should know about his or her plumbing system to keep fixtures operating properly and adequately maintained. 

The location of the shut-off valve for the water supply to your home

If you want to be able to respond promptly and properly to plumbing emergencies, you need to know the location of the shut-off valve in your home.

Flipping your shut-off valve will cut off the water supply to overflowing plumbing fixtures and prevent severe damage from occurring when your plumbing system malfunctions. 

The items you should not be flushing down your toilet

A lot of toilet malfunctions are caused by flushing things down the toilet that shouldn't be put down the toilet.

Basically, you should only be flushing human waste and toilet paper down your toilet. Don't use your toilets as garbage cans. In particular, avoid flushing feminine products, diapers, dental floss, and Q-tips to prevent severe clogs. 

The items you should not be putting down your drains and disposal

You can prevent drains clogs by watching what you put down the drains of your kitchen sink, bathroom fixtures, sinks, and bathtubs.

Avoid letting oily substances get down your drains because these substances could solidify in your pipes and create clogs. Also, keep coffee grounds, pet litter, egg shells, and substances that swell when wet like rice out of your drains. 

The best ways to unclog a toilet

No matter how careful you are, it will inevitably happen at some point that your toilet will become clogged.

You need to have a good quality toilet plunger available to deal with these situations. Avoid using excessive quantities of drain cleaner down your toilets because they could damage pipes. 

The location of exposed pipes

Knowing where your exposed pipes are is important for numerous reasons. First off, you can regularly inspect exposed pipes to make sure that fissures or rust aren't developing in them.

Also, you can avoid damaging pipes when you need to drill or hammer into your walls by being able to locate where your pipes are. 

The signs that you need to call a plumber

At some point, you're going to need to call a plumber for service and repairs. Signs that you really need to call a plumber include drains that empty out slowly or clog, unusual odors coming from plumbing fixtures, back-flow problems, and burst pipes. 

Don't hesitate to call a plumbing contractor right away when you need one. The sooner you get your plumbing fixtures looked at by a professional, the sooner your plumbing system will be back to normal.