Don’t Let Plumbing Issues Be A Bother

TIP! Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped out in five year intervals. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house.

How much do you really know about plumbing? If you answered yes, are there areas where your knowledge could expand? Are you skilled or a beginner? If you are not confident about your responses to these questions, read the advice below.

TIP! Your plumbing experience can go a lot smoother when you know your tools, as well as how to handle them properly. Research the project you are going to attempt online, and read the manuals that come with the tools before you use them.

It’s a bad idea to makes use of toilet tablets composed of bleach or in the color blue, or in fact any one designed to remove odors. These products will reduce the smell, but they will also cause problems with the rubber gaskets. Over time, the damage will accumulate and could eventually stop the toilet from functioning at all.

TIP! Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. These tablets have chemicals that can damage rubber parts that are essential to the proper functioning of your toilet.

If you want to look for floor damage around your toilet, just check the flooring for softness. Sit on your toilet and sway across both feet to feel if there are any spots less firm than the others. You can wind up saving your money simply by noticing the problem early on.

TIP! Orange or pink discoloration on your bathroom fixtures is a solid indication that your water contains too much iron. Using a water softener can help fix this problem.

Make sure there is a strainer covering all drains in order to collect particles that would cause a clog if they went down the drain. The strainer used in the kitchen will need to be cleaned frequently. Those in the bathtub should be cleaned out periodically, as needed.

TIP! Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home.

If you live in a home using well water and your bathtubs have stains pink and orange in color, this is likely a result of iron levels in the well water. This is something that needs to be taken care of by water softener, which you can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.

Save Money

TIP! Frozen pipes can do very extensive and expensive damage. This problem is easily avoided.

Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. Do not call a plumber for minor issues. You can save money by waiting to have everything fixed at the same time. You can save money by only paying a single service call fee instead of ending up with multiple hours being billed from multiple visits.

TIP! If you are having trouble removing a clean-out plug, there are two ways to do it. The first way is to get a chisel and a hammer and try to jostle the fitting loose.

Check overflow holes regularly to prevent blockage. You may not even notice the overflow holes on your sink, but if you have a major water leak you will soon regret your apathy. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.

TIP! Sometimes, you will be forced to use a certain plumber, but that doesn’t mean that looking him up on Angie’s List or a similar site isn’t a good idea. Though your insurer may determine the plumbing company that will work on your house, you still have the ability to look them up, read customer reviews and prepare for their visit.

Run cold water through your garbage disposal. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. If you use hot water it will liquefy the grease, allowing it to accumulate in your drain causing your pipes to clog.

Shower Heads

TIP! It is important to locate the main water supply cut-off valve in your home. The cut-off valve will generally be close to the water meter.

You can save lots on energy with efficient shower heads. Most hot water is consumed in our showers. If you invest in purchasing and installing shower heads that are energy-efficient, you can realize savings of approximately $100 each year for each shower head.

TIP! Education is essential when dealing with plumbing issues, because knowing nothing about the topic will cause people to spend big bucks on a plumber. If you own your own home, it’s important that you take the time to learn the basics of plumbing, enough to ensure that you know what a plumber will be doing.

Don’t use your toilet as a trash can in order to avoid problems. Don’t put disposable sanitary objects down the toilet. The sewage system cannot deal with these items and will become clogged. You will also want to use the least amount of toilet paper as required.

TIP! Get a hot water tank that is adapted to your needs to improve your water heater efficiency. In order to determine what capacity hot water tank you need, take into consideration how many people and appliances in your home have a demand for hot water.

Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. People often times incorrectly believe that it’s alright to buy a cheap shower head. These types of fixtures are prone to breakage and are much less sturdy.

TIP! When you replace a water heater, be sure to reconnect the secondary pipe that sticks out from the drain pipe, if one is there. It is probably a recirculation pipe; that helps your water remain heated without wasting too much water.

Make sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This saves you from potential problems, including the prevention of fires. Be sure to check the trap for tears and rips, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.

TIP! If you can see water dripping in or near your walls, shut off the water and call a professional right away. This could mean that you have some serious plumbing issues.

Letting your sink run is not really necessary when you put something down the in-sink disposal unit. A common misconception is that if you flow water into the disposal while you’re putting solid items down there, the process will be smoother, but that just isn’t true. Water can cause food to stick to the moving parts, and this could create damage.

TIP! If you’re a properly trained plumber, consider hiring an apprentice. This is a great way to have some cheap labor, and to pass on your knowledge to someone younger.

If you need a good plumber, make sure you check out their reviews. Some plumbers don’t have the necessary skills or do not have the experience to take on certain jobs, and that could make your situation much worse. Look up reviews for plumbers, or ask people you know for a recommendation.

TIP! Items that shouldn’t go in the disposal include chicken skin, pumpkins, carrots and bananas. All these foods can catch on the blades and cause clogs.

Valves that are rarely used tend to fuse together. Periodically turn these valves off and one. Use specially designed oils that can work their way through the buildup to keep them loosened up and operable.

TIP! It can save a lot of money to have a list of everything a plumber should look at before hand. Check all of your plumbing fixtures, note any problems and write them down so you don’t forget anything.

Verify the location of your main water valve, and cut-off, for your property You’ll find a water meter right on it or near by. Also, locate additional shut off valves for toilets, sinks, washers and any other device that runs off of your water supply. Give all family members information about where these valves are located, and show them how to shut them off should an emergency occur.

TIP! If you have any loose tiles, investigate the cause. Loose tiles are frequently an indicator that you have a leak somewhere, and it needs to be addressed.

Plumbing is more than dealing with water. There are other skills needed if you want to try out plumbing. When looking at a common project like fixing water lines, one can realize the in-depth knowledge that is necessary.

TIP! Make sure all the people in your home are informed on where the water shutoff valve is located, and other important connections. Virtually any plumbing problem will get worse and worse if no one present knows how to shut down the flow of water.

Has this article helped you to learn more about plumbing? Find out more about the specific system you have. Can you say that your plumbing skill level has increased? Do you think you can use the information that will fix your system? Are you informed enough to use your equipment? You should be able to answer these questions after reading this article.