U.S. News’ online guide features in-depth information on choosing a home warranty company and covers a range of topics, including coverages, plan options and discounts.

“We are honored to be recognized as a Best Home Warranty Company for the third year in a row,” said James Mostofi, CEO of Choice Home Warranty.  “It is gratifying to see our commitment to excellence recognized yet again as Choice Home Warranty continues striving to be the largest and most respected home warranty company in the United States.”

U.S. News evaluated home warranty companies based on cost, appliances and systems covered, and unique warranty features. U.S. News’ 360 Reviews team applied an unbiased methodology that includes professional ratings and reviews, consumer ratings and reviews, and research comparing various features across home warranty companies.

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a technology-first home warranty provider headquartered in Edison, NJ. Choice provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Choice services its customers through a network of over 25,000 independent contractors. Choice is the fastest growing home warranty provider in the US and has covered more than 1.6 million homes across the country and handled more than 4.5 million service requests. ChoiceHomeWarranty.com  is an industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and claim tracking technology.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. The 360 Reviews team brings the U.S. News approach to consumer guidance into a broad set of consumer product and service categories. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The post U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews Names Choice Home Warranty Among Best Home Warranty Companies of 2022 appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Founded in 1996 and based in Illinois, HWA is recognized as a top national provider of home warranty service contracts to real estate professionals.  Choice will continue to operate HWA as a stand-alone brand; but would complement HWA’s strong brand and experienced employees with modern and improved customer service utilizing Choice’s advanced technology.

“HWA’s experienced team and strong reputation with real estate professionals combined with Choice’s advanced technology, is an excellent fit with Choice’s overall growth strategy,” said Victor Hakim, Chairman, and founder of Choice. “The combination of HWA’s real estate channel experience with Choice’s direct to consumer business and high-tech administration platform will be complimentary and will improve customer service, be great for our partners, and accelerate our path to attaining our goal of become the US’ largest and most respected home warranty provider.”

“This transaction with HWA solidifies Choice as the nation’s 3^rd largest home warranty provider, servicing more than 750,000 customers and is its most recent step toward achieving our goal,” said Hakim.  “In the last nine months, we brought on industry veteran James Mostofi as CEO; we added Sandeep Gill as CFO; we, once again, have been recognized for quality and customer service in the media; and we continue to grow awareness of our product through our brand ambassadors, George Foreman and Richard Karn.” 

“Home Warranty of America has been a trusted and recognizable brand in the home warranty space for more than 25 years,” said Hakim.  “We welcome the team and are excited to bring new technology to improve and grow HWA and Choice.”

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a technology first home warranty provider headquartered in Edison, NJ. Choice provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.  Choice services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice is the fastest growing home warranty provider in the US and has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 4 million service requests.  ChoiceHomeWarranty.com is an industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and claim tracking technology.

The post Home Warranty of America Joins the Choice Home Warranty Family appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

“Choice Home Warranty was pleased to be invited to join the NHSCA organization,” said James E. Mostofi, CEO of Choice Home Warranty. “Membership in the NHSCA provides the general public with additional confirmation of something our customers already know – Choice Home Warranty is one of the best home warranty providers in the country.”

“The NHSCA is dedicated to bringing the best of the industry together to propel it forward. As a key member of the industry, we are delighted to welcome Choice Home Warranty to the Association,” said NHSCA President, Andy Hand of First American Home Warranty.

Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 4 million service requests. Choice Home Warranty prides itself on being a technology forward industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology that are revolutionizing the home warranty industry. Its network of over 15,000 independent contractors helps CHW ensure it provides its customers with quality repairs for covered breakdowns, taking the stress out of homeownership.

As set forth on its website (www.homeservicecontract.org/about-nhsca/), members of the NHSCA are reputable, licensed home service contract providers in good standing. Each member is issued a six-digit Company Code signifying that a consumer is dealing with a professional and reputable provider that is known and established in the industry, among realtors, and has a track record of experience.

“As the home warranty industry continues to expand, the NHSCA serves as a key industry leader in charting the course ahead,” said Mostofi. “We look forward to being an active member of the NHSCA and doing our part to chart that course.”

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

Customer Service: choicehomewarranty.com/account-center

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HOME SERVICE CONTRACT ASSOCIATION

The NHSCA is a non-profit 501(c)(6) industry trade organization of member companies serving home service contract providers and consumer interests throughout the United States.  For more great industry and consumer information, visit http://homeservicecontract.org.

The post Choice Home Warranty Joins the National Home Service Contract Association appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

“Lone Wolf Technologies has long been a leading provider of residential real estate software, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with them on this integration to simplify the home warranty ordering process for real estate professionals nationwide,” said Jim Mostofi, CEO of Choice Home Warranty. “Choice Home Warranty’s technology-enabled dispatching and administration capabilities are revolutionizing the home warranty industry so a collaboration with an innovator like Lone Wolf, who is using technology to transform the real estate industry, makes perfect sense.”

Digital Home Warranty is a free new feature of Lone Wolf Transactions (zipForm Edition and TransactionDesk Edition). Users of the platform can select Choice Home Warranty as their home warranty service contract provider and place orders with a single click within Lone Wolf Transactions. This helps to eliminate extra steps in the process for real estate agents and brokers, and simplify a crucial part of the real estate process. Choice Home Warranty offers three levels of coverage, as well as an array of optional coverage, so that brokers and agents can quickly and easily obtain coverage for their buyers’ home systems and appliances.

“Digital Home Warranty is all about making the process easier for buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals,” said Jason Cheverton, Vice President of Strategic Channels at Lone Wolf. “As a leading provider of home warranties nationwide, partnering with Choice Home Warranty was a no brainer and we’re thrilled to feature them as a one-click home warranty in Lone Wolf Transactions.”

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

Customer Service: choicehomewarranty.com/account-center

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 4 million service requests. Choice Home Warranty prides itself on being the industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology.

ABOUT LONE WOLF TECHNOLOGIES

Lone Wolf Technologies is the North American leader in residential real estate software, serving over 1.5 million real estate professionals across Canada and the U.S. With cloud solutions for agents, brokers, franchises, MLSs and associations alike, the company provides the entire real estate industry with the tools they need to amaze clients, build their business, and improve profits—from transactions to back office, insights, and more, all in one place. Lone Wolf’s head offices are located in Cambridge, ON, and Dallas, TX. 

The post Choice Home Warranty Partners with Lone Wolf Technologies on One-Click Digital Home Warranty appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

Jim brings a wealth of expertise to this role, having served in a number of senior leadership capacities over the past 17 years at American International Group (AIG) and Service Net Holdings. His capabilities include extensive Warranty and Insurance industry experience, strong financial acumen, and experience operating in regulated markets in the US.  Jim is an experienced strategist with a deep understanding of how to build enduring consumer brands while leveraging operational scale across a dispersed service footprint. He is a strong leader with a proven track record of developing high-performing teams.

In his previous role as Global Head of Business Development, Warranty and Services Division at AIG, Jim developed and was responsible for the world’s largest and most innovative warranty programs, including programs for manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions, public utilities, and more.  Jim also served as US President of AIG’s Global Warranty and Services Division where he was responsible for all aspects of AIG’s billion-dollar US warranty division specializing in administration and insurance service contracts. 

Prior to AIG, Jim spent several years advising warranty and non-warranty clients as a corporate attorney with Frost Brown Todd, LLC, specializing in mergers and acquisitions and insurance regulatory matters.  He began his career as a certified public accountant, where he spent 10 years working at several public accounting firms including the Chicago office of Ernst and Young where he specialized in taxation of large financial institutions.  

“Choice Home Warranty is at the forefront of the home warranty industry with its advanced technology enabled distribution and administration capabilities.  It’s one of the most exciting market opportunities in our lifetime,” said Mostofi. “Thanks to the efforts of Victor and the entire team at Choice Home Warranty, no company is better positioned to win in the growing home warranty market. I look forward to working with the team to build on the foundation that has been laid, to develop strategies that strongly resonate with consumers, and to capture the market opportunity before us. Together we will drive sustainable, industry-leading growth that benefits our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities in which we operate.”

Current CEO, Victor Hakim, will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of Choice Home Warranty.  As a co-founder of Choice Home Warranty, Victor was instrumental in building the Company into what it is today in the role of CEO.

“It has been an incredible 13 years at Choice Home Warranty, and I have witnessed the team grow from a few people in a small office, to hundreds of people across many locations,” said Hakim. “Choice Home Warranty today is positioned to thrive with the resources, infrastructure, team, and culture needed to succeed. It has truly been an honor to be part of building the fastest growing U.S. home warranty company, and I look forward to the Company continuing to evolve and grow under Jim’s leadership.” 

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a technology first home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The Company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.  CHW services it’s customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice Home Warranty is the fastest growing home warranty company in the US and has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 4 million service requests. ChoiceHomeWarranty.com prides itself on being the industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and claim tracking technology.

Contact: media@choicehomewarranty.com

The post Choice Home Warranty Appoints James Mostofi as Chief Executive Officer appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

U.S. News’ online guide features in-depth information on choosing a home warranty company and covers a range of topics, including coverages, plan options and discounts.

 “We are honored that U.S. News 360 Reviews named Choice Home Warranty as a Best Home Warranty Company of 2021 and as Best Claim Service of 2021 for the second year in a row,” said Victor Hakim, CEO of Choice Home Warranty.  “The Choice Home Warranty team is dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional service, and it is gratifying to see our commitment to excellence recognized by U.S. News 360 Reviews again.”

U.S. News evaluated home warranty companies based on cost, appliances and systems covered, unique warranty features. U.S. News’ 360 Reviews team applied an unbiased methodology that includes professional ratings and reviews, consumer ratings and reviews and research comparing various features across home warranty companies.

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY
Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 3 million service requests. ChoiceHomeWarranty.com prides itself on being the industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. The 360 Reviews team brings the U.S. News approach to consumer guidance into a broad set of consumer product and service categories. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The post U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews Names Choice Home Warranty Among Best Home Warranty Companies of 2021 and Best Claim Service 2021 appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

“We are delighted to receive the People’s Choice Award.  The Choice Home Warranty team is committed to providing our customers with protection for their home’s systems and appliances as well as their budgets. The People’s Choice Award is the only one we care about, because it’s from the only people that count!” said Victor Hakim, CEO of Choice Home Warranty.

HomeWarrantyReviews.com rigorously screened home warranty companies to select its nominees. To be nominated, companies must meet parameters based on customer satisfaction, retention rates, using various means to achieve customer satisfaction, ease of use and digital experience, and social media engagement. HomeWarrantyReviews.com notes that reports of customer satisfaction have risen every year since launching the awards in 2012.

Customer Service: choicehomewarranty.com/account-center

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 3 million service requests. Choice Home Warranty prides itself on being the industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology.

ABOUT HOMEWARRANTYREVIEWS.COM

HomeWarrantyReviews.com was created back in 2006 with the purpose to provide objective and candid reviews of home warranty companies. It was the first reviews platform that was dedicated solely towards home warranty reviews and research. They now have over 70,000 unique consumer reviews and 80+ home warranty companies listed on their site. As time went by, they gained deeper insights into the problems faced by homeowners and introduced new features, innovative tools, the Annual Home Warranty Awards, and also an articles section dedicated to addressing queries relating to home warranty, home maintenance, appliance maintenance, and other related topics.

The post HomeWarrantyReviews.com Recognizes Choice Home Warranty with the 2020 People’s Choice Award appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

U.S. News’ online guide features in-depth information on choosing a home warranty company and covers a range of topics, including coverages, plan options and discounts.

“At Choice Home Warranty, our mission is to provide our customers with protection for their home systems and appliances as well as their budgets,” said Victor Hakim, CEO of Choice Home Warranty. “We are honored to see our dedication to this mission recognized. We are especially proud and excited to be recognized for Best Claim Service because we believe our ability to leverage technology makes our claims process the best in the industry.” 

U.S. News evaluated home warranty companies based on cost, appliances and systems covered, unique warranty features. U.S. News’ 360 Reviews team applied an unbiased methodology that includes professional ratings and reviews, consumer ratings and reviews and research comparing various features across home warranty companies.

Customer Service: choicehomewarranty.com/account-center

Media Relations: media@choicehomewarranty.com

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

ABOUT CHOICE HOME WARRANTY

Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison, NJ. The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors. Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 3 million service requests. ChoiceHomeWarranty.com prides itself on being the industry leader, with proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. The 360 Reviews team brings the U.S. News approach to consumer guidance into a broad set of consumer product and service categories. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The post U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews Names Choice Home Warranty Among Best Home Warranty Companies of 2020 appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

“When people are home all day, every day, they use their systems and appliances more than usual.  With all the anxiety caused by the spread of this virus, people should not have to be anxious about what will happen if these essential household items stop working.  We don’t cover everything, but we are doing what we can to give our customers’ peace of mind and to protect their budget.  We are all in this together,” Hakim said.  

Although the pandemic has changed what “normal” means today, Choice Home Warranty has maintained its commitment to its customers even while many employees work remotely.  By leveraging technology, it has hundreds of dedicated employees across three states working in partnership with its network of over 15,000 service technicians to continue to provide the service its customers have come to expect.  Choice Home Warranty is proud to support local communities across the country by ensuring the work of repair is handled by local contractors, master craftsmen/tradesmen and small business owners.   

Choice Home Warranty has covered more than 1 million homes across the country and handled more than 2.5 million service requests.  Choice Home Warranty prides itself on being the industry leader, with its proprietary automated dispatching and tracking technology. 

About Choice Home Warranty:

Choice Home Warranty is a leading home warranty company headquartered in Edison NJ.  The company provides service contracts to consumers for the repair or replacement of major home systems and appliances that breakdown due to normal wear and tear.  It services its customers through a network of over 15,000 independent contractors and has covered more than 1M homes.

Contacts:

Customer Service: choicehomewarranty.com/account-center

Media Relations: Media@choicehomewarranty.com

Investor Relations: IR@choicehomewarranty.com

Website: ChoiceHomeWarranty.com

The post Choice Home Warranty Will Provide Enhanced Coverage During Covid-19 Crisis. appeared first on Choice Home Warranty.

The water main or your private well is the beginning of your plumbing system. There will likely be a main shut-off valve once it enters your house for emergencies. Then water may go through things like a pressure tank, water heater and water softener before going into the walls and floors through lead, copper or PVC pipes and into your toilets, washing machines, faucets, shower heads and spigots.

With all that your home plumbing system does for you, it should come as no surprise that it accounts for approximately 15 percent of the total value of your home. Obviously, you will want to protect this value. The first and most obvious place to start is to look for water leaks in your home. According to the EPA, easily fixed water leaks are responsible for wasting almost 1 trillion gallons of water per year in U.S. households. This can also cause water damage to the rest of our home.

The average home loses almost 10,000 gallons every year to leaks. You could do 300 loads of laundry with that much water. This amount of water loss could result in 10 percent higher water bills. Furthermore, the EPA states that 10 percent of homes are wasting 90 or more gallons per day! A good example of a costly leak would be a leaky faucet. If it drips once per second, it can waste over 3,000 gallons a year. That’s more than you need to take 180 showers.

However, not all leaks can be fixed by the homeowner, especially hidden leaks. Here’s a couple of ways to determine if you have a leak problem that may need professional attention.

1. Review your water bills for January or February to determine your water use in gallons or CCFs. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons or 16 CCF in one of these months, they probably have a leak problem that has become serious.
2. Check your water bills for spikes in water usage. This could also indicate a leak problem.
3. Take a reading from your water meter at a time when you are not using any water (this is key). If, after two hours, the reading is not exactly the same, you likely have a leak. Many meters have leak detection dials which will spin if there is a leak in your plumbing system, so you won’t have to read the meter.

Finally, it’s a good idea to ensure that all members of your household know where the water shut-off valves are and how to use them in case of a burst pipe. Getting the water shut off quickly can avoid a lot of damage. And make sure you know where your main shut-off valve is.

Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

Home plumbing maintenance is something you can do daily, weekly, seasonally and annually to keep your plumbing system running smoothly. Maintenance of your plumbing system consists not only of little DIY projects, but also of being aware of all the things that can go wrong with your plumbing system, and all the things you can do to keep things from going awry. Here is a plumbing maintenance checklist to get you on your way.

Check for Leaks

Checking for leaks may be one of the most important plumbing maintenance chores you can do around your house to keep your plumbing system from running into expensive problems down the line. A little leak, left unchecked, can turn into a nightmare if walls, ceilings or flooring are damaged, not to mention the cost of the professionals who have to come out to do the repairs to the plumbing. Here’s a leak checklist for you. Some should be done more frequently than others.

Some of the most common places to find leaks in your plumbing system will be:

• Faucets
• Toilet flappers
• Shower heads
• Pipe fittings

These should all be inspected often. Use these tips when inspecting:

• Turn on all faucets; no water should come out of the handles or valves. Dripping faucets are the most common plumbing repair.
• Check your toilet flappers for a tight fit so water is not leaking into the bowl and causing the toilet to run more than it should.
• Turn on the showerhead and see if it drips or has stray spray that you can’t stop with tape.
• Check under your sinks for signs of leaks, such as puddles of water, water marks, musty smells, and mold. Also look at the pipes for signs of moisture at the fittings.
• Check at the base of the toilet for any moisture.
• In the kitchen, check the faucet, disposal, pipes under the sink and the sprayer.
• Check for any water pooling under dishwashers or refrigerators that have icemakers, which could mean a leak in the supply line. You should also check for water pooling under your washing machine, which could also mean a supply line leak, and under your water heater.
• In addition, according to HUD, you should check the following for leaks annually:
  • Walls, windows, doors, and ceilings for signs of water damage
  • Washer hoses and connections
  • Dishwasher hoses
  • Dishwasher and washing machine water connections for security and leaks and corrosion
  • Refrigerator drip pan-icemaker connections
  • Traps and drains under sinks, tubs and showers
  • Hot water heater (in the fall)
  • Boiler (in the fall)
  • Water main/meter or well pump for leaks or sweating (in the fall)

Also, annually check:

• The caulking around the tub, shower and sinks in the bathroom. Water can get in your walls or under your floors if there are cracks. Repair as needed. Periodically remove and replace all caulking. Do this in the kitchen too.
• Your garden hoses in spring for damage as they can become cracked or can dry rot during the winter. A single leaking hose roughly the diameter of a dime can waste more than 6,000 gallons of water in just one month. Also check for leaks at the spigot itself.

Prevent Clogs

Clogs in the drains are one of the most common plumbing problems. Preventing a clog now can save you having to deal with a bigger clog or complete blockage later. Also, clogs put pressure on your pipes, which can reduce their useful lifespan. Here is a home plumbing maintenance checklist for preventing clogs to help you out:

• Take apart your tub, shower and sink drain traps periodically to remove hair and debris and snake the branch drains to remove any clogs that may exist there.
• Use screens or drain baskets in the tub and shower designed to catch hair so it won’t go down the drain.
• Cut down on your use of bath oils.
• Clean out the P-traps under your sinks.
• Never put grease, oil, or fats (including butter) down the drain. They can solidify in your drains, causing blockages.
• Use your garbage disposal properly. Leave the water running for about 15 seconds after you turn the disposal off to clear the drain. Don’t put fibrous foods like celery, banana peels or meats down the disposal. Use common sense.
• Don’t flush things down the toilet that it wasn’t designed for, like feminine products, disposable diapers, paper towels, cat litter, hair, etc. If you do get clogged toilets often, it could be a warning that there is an issue in the main sewer line.

A slow drain is an obvious sign that you are getting a clog. You can deal with some blockages yourself by cleaning out the P-traps and branch drains or by pouring a solution of baking soda, vinegar and boiling water down the drain. If the drain is totally clogged, don’t use a drain cleaner. You will probably just get a big pool of very caustic water and may even make the clog enlarge.

Other Preventative Measures

There are many things you can do around your home to prevent problems further on. Here is a list of preventative plumbing maintenance ideas to get you going:

• For each of your fixtures, test your water supply shut-off valves to ensure they are working properly.
• Using the baking soda and vinegar solution on your drains regularly will help keep water moving by breaking up normal buildup.
• If your dishwasher fills slowly or retains water, check the water discharge hose for any clogs or pinches.
• Check washing machine hoses for cracks, brittleness or bulges. Any with these should be replaced. Check the water intake pipe for rust inside and replace the fittings and pipes if necessary.
• Flush your water heater annually to remove the buildup of sediment which can cause leaks.
• Keep your water heater’s temperature set at 120° F. This is the temperature at which the appliance works best and has the longest lifespan.
• In the fall, turn off the water supply to your outdoor spigots and remove any hoses. Turn the spigot on and drain any water left in the line. This will prevent freezing of your pipes.
• Check your home’s water pressure with a pressure gauge to make sure it is not too high and putting stress on your plumbing system. Regulators can help keep the water pressure at a proper level.
• Check the water supply hose in your refrigerator if it has a water dispenser and icemaker. Replace the hose if it is worn.
• In the winter, especially in colder climates, insulate pipes in areas that are not heated, like crawl spaces, garages and basements. In some instances you may want to use heat tape to protect them.
• Look at all of your visible pipes. Discoloration is a sign of corrosion and you should have these pipes replaced.
• Make sure you keep your main water valve easy to turn by using some silicone-based lubricant on the valve stem and spreading it by opening and closing the valve a couple of times.
• If you have a septic tank, have it inspected regularly, and have it pumped every two years or as recommended per the inspection.
• If you have a problem with tree roots, have your sewer line snaked every year.

Quick Fixes

Is your toilet running continuously? Does your shower head spray off in all directions due to mineral buildup? Does your garbage disposal smell bad or not run as it should? Here are a few easy fixes to some common home plumbing maintenance issues for you to try out.

• A continuously running toilet can be caused by several things. A worn flapper, or a chain that is too short or too long and gets hung up are probably the most common and easiest to deal with. The flapper and chain can be replaced inexpensively and simply. And if it’s a too-long chain that’s hanging up, you can just shorten it.
• A shower head that has mineral build up can be cleaned by submerging it in vinegar overnight, then giving it a quick scrub. This works on faucet aerators too.
• A smelly or grimy garbage disposal can be cleaned by using ice cubes made of white vinegar and running them through the garbage disposal.
• If your toilet rocks a bit when you move on it, the mounting bolts may simply need to be tightened or replaced if rusted. Unfortunately, if the bolts are fine, it may be the flange, the piece that connects the toilet to the floor and to the sewer line. While this is not a quick fix, you can still accomplish it yourself. It may also be the wax ring that sits between the toilet’s base and the flange.
• Some drippy faucets can be remedied just by replacing a bad washer or cartridge (a valve in two handle faucets). Others can be fixed simply by tightening the aerator.
• Some shower head leaks can be fixed by ensuring a tight connection with the pipe stem and by securing with pipe tape, also called Teflon tape. While you’re at it, see if you need to replace the washer as well.
• If your garden hose leaks at the spigot, you can replace the washer, and use a wrench and some pipe tape to make sure you have a tight connection.
• Check faucets that don’t get much use and if they are stiff, dismantle and apply a silicone-based lubricant to ease their movement. 
• Inspect the points where the dishwasher discharge connects with the garbage disposal and where the disposal discharge goes to the sink drain and replace the gaskets if you find any sign of leaks.

Maintenance of your plumbing system is something you should be thinking about on a regular basis. Not only will plumbing maintenance help keep things running smoothly in your home, it will also help to protect you from big and costly problems in the future. This plumbing maintenance checklist will get you well on your way to a healthier plumbing system for you and your family.

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