It's a good feeling when moving into a brand new home and having peace of mind that everything is new, knowing you shouldn't have to pay for major repairs for several years. You can prolong the need for expensive repairs, such as replacing plumbing pipes, for as long as possible by keeping up with maintenance. Here are four things you can do to protect your plumbing and help it have a long and trouble-free life.

1. Install A Water Softener

Your home may have hard water if the water comes from a well. Your water can even be hard if you have city water, so consider installing a water softener. A bad effect of hard water is the mineral scale it leaves on everything including the insides of your pipes.

It may take years, but the scale can eventually build up to the point that it forms a clog or causes other problems, such as debris in your water. Those problems can be prevented by having a water softener installed. You'll protect your plumbing pipes and you'll also protect any major appliances, such as the washer and hot water heater.

2. Have Your Water Heater Serviced Annually

Mineral scale is especially hard on a water heater tank. The sediment builds up and then it can interfere with the heating elements. This problem can be avoided by having regular maintenance on the water heater.

A plumber can flush out the heater to get rid of sediment while checking important safety features like the pressure relief valve. This helps your water heater live longer and give you less trouble while keeping sediment out of your hot water supply.

3. Have A Plumber Check Pressure Fluctuations

When anything unusual happens with your plumbing, call a plumber to investigate. Your plumbing might start making odd noises or the pressure could suddenly drop or get too strong. These could be signs of a problem with your plumbing that needs quick repairs before a pipe bursts or starts leaking.

Getting timely help from a plumber can also alert you to a leak so a leak doesn't go on for a long time and cause expensive water damage to your home.

4. Don't Flush Anything You Shouldn't

Sometimes it's convenient to flush something down the toilet or put in the garbage disposal that you know you shouldn't, but you may pay for it later. A clogged drain or sewer line is one of the more inconvenient plumbing problems you might face since it puts your toilet or kitchen sink out of service.

You can avoid problems with drains by being careful about what you put in them. However, a clog can also happen due to tree roots, so calling a plumber to clear the line at the first signs of a clog could keep you from dealing with a backed-up toilet later. For more information, contact a plumber.