We all take our plumbing systems for granted: you turn on the water and it comes out, right? Every time you flush your toilet, the waste goes down with absolutely no problem, right? Well, we all hope for a trouble-free set of pipes in our homes, but unfortunately this is just wishful thinking: and we are all reminded of the need for regular preventive care when our drains are blocked or the hot water pipe freezes. Here are some preventive plumbing maintenance tips that will keep your pipes healthy and save money by minimizing those plumber bills.

--Prevent frozen pipes: If any of your water supply lines run along an exterior wall, your pipes are in danger of freezing under extreme temperature conditions. You can approach this one of three main ways:

1. Add more insulation to your wall
2. Insulate the pipe directly or use heat tape
3. Allow one or more of your faucets supplied by this line to slow-drip to prevent freezing

Frozen pipes can burst, causing untold damage to your home's structures and belongings: a very costly catastrophe indeed that is actually very preventable.

--Keep your sink drains clear: Put strainers over your tub and shower drains to keep hair and other objects from going down into your pipes. Remove stoppers from bathroom sinks and clean away hair and "gunk" often. Once a month, pour a gallon of boiling water down each of your home's drains to help keep the pipes below free and clear. It is much easier and cheaper to practice these preventive measures than it is to let potential problems grow unchecked.

--Keep your toilets unclogged: The best preventative for such clogs is educating family members large and small. Teach your family about the perils of using too much toilet paper, and that a toilet is never to be used as a garbage can: even if items are considered "flushable." Parents need to exercise vigilance when there are curious toddlers in the house: many a plumber has been called in to unclog a commode that has toys lodged in the pipes!

--Beware the garbage disposal: It is extremely common for kitchen sink pipes to become clogged due to the improper use of a garbage disposal. Although this appliance is extremely handy, it is not designed to grind up everything. Avoid common culprits such as coffee grounds, celery, pasta, and other food items that your disposal is simply not designed to handle.