Protect Pipes During Michigan Winters
Insulate any pipe in an unheated space — garage, crawl space, or exterior wall cavity. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and installs in minutes. During hard freezes, let cold-side faucets drip slightly and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. These small steps prevent the kind of pipe bursts that cause thousands of dollars in water damage.
Maintain Your Water Heater
Sediment accumulates at the bottom of tank water heaters over time. This creates insulating layers that reduce efficiency and accelerate corrosion. Flushing the tank annually and inspecting or replacing the anode rod every 3–5 years can add years to the unit's life. Most homeowners skip both — and are surprised when the tank fails after 8 years instead of 15.
Respect Your Drain Lines
Everything that goes down a drain eventually ends up in your sewer system. Grease solidifies and coats pipe walls. Coffee grounds accumulate. Fibrous materials like celery or artichokes tangle around disposal blades and in drain lines. Hair in showers builds up into dense blockages. Using drain strainers, composting food waste, and disposing of grease in the trash — not the drain — keeps your drain lines clear significantly longer.
Watch Your Water Pressure
High water pressure — above 80 PSI — is hard on pipe joints, fixture seals, water heater connections, and appliance supply lines. Most homeowners don't know their home's water pressure. A plumber can check it in seconds with a gauge. If pressure is high, a pressure reducing valve (PRV) adjustment or replacement is a straightforward fix with big protective benefits.
Schedule a Plumbing Inspection Every Few Years
A plumbing inspection catches developing issues before they fail — supply line deterioration, water heater corrosion, slow drain buildup, compromised sewer lines. The cost of an inspection is a fraction of the cost of the emergency it prevents. Homes over 15 years old benefit especially from periodic professional assessment.
Common Questions
Normal residential water pressure is between 40 and 80 PSI. Below 40 PSI, you'll notice weak flow. Above 80 PSI, you're accelerating wear on every pipe joint and fixture in the home.
In most Sterling Heights homes, the main water shutoff is in the basement near where the water main enters the house — typically along a front or side wall. It's a gate valve (wheel-shaped) or ball valve (lever-shaped). Make sure it turns freely and you know where it is before an emergency.