Plumbers’ Give Tips to Protect Water Quality

BROOKLYN, NY -- The experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, a company serving Brooklyn and Manhattan since 1906, is encouraging homeowners to protect water quality with simple actions, as part of this National Water Quality Month.

"Brooklyn is fortunate to have excellent drinking water, but homeowners still need to take steps to protect that quality," said Michael Petri, owner of Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. "Even when water enters your home clean, it can pick up contaminants from aging pipes, plumbing components and fixtures."

Key recommendations from Petri include:

• Flush your tap water daily. Each morning, run water from a faucet until you notice a colder water temperature (usually one to two minutes). The flow of colder water indicates that the water sitting in your home piping overnight has been flushed and fresh water is entering from the city's water mains.

• Clean the faucet's screen or aerator regularly. This removes contaminants that often get caught in them.

• Use a certified water filter for lead removal. If you're concerned about lead, installing a point-of-use filter or whole-home water filter at the point of entry to your home can provide an additional safety precaution against contaminants. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for filter installation and maintenance or hire a professional.

• Check for lead in your home's plumbing fixtures. A professional check is the safest way to ensure your home's water quality. A licensed professional plumber can replace water service lines or other plumbing components if lead is found to be present.

"Many contaminants, including lead, are tasteless, colorless and odorless," said Petri. "These steps help to safeguard water quality, but a professional test is the best way to ensure that your home's water is safe."

For more homeowner tips on topics including plumbing, heating, cooling and drain cleaning, visit www.petriplumbing.com/.