TIP! Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems.

Are you a good plumber? Are you interested in learning how to do simple plumbing repairs yourself? If you just said “It’s go time,” then this article is for you. This article contains tips and advice to help you better understand the confusing world of plumbing.

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 your pipes freeze, turn on the water from the faucet nearest them to let water out when they start to thaw. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

TIP! If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.

You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.

TIP! Check for softness in your floor to determine flood damage. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you.

Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. Straddle the toilet, then start rocking on each foot to check whether you feel softness or weakening on the floor under you. You can wind up saving your money simply by noticing the problem early on.

TIP! Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain.

Put the strainer on top of drains to catch any food that would go down and cause a clog. You should clean your strainer in your kitchen anytime you have anything in it. The ones in your bathtub should also be cleaned frequently, as needed.

Overflow Holes

TIP! If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. By doing so, you can save up enough money to pay for the repairs.

Regularly check your overflow holes to make sure they’re not clogged. If your sink starts to overflow, the water will run into the overflow holes, this might not be a huge issue, unless they are clogged. When checking for potential problems and repairs, you should also remove obstructions from the overflow holes.

TIP! Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup’s worth of baking soda and than a cup’s worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. Cover it with a plug or rag, because a chemical reaction is sure to occur in your pipes.

To keep your garbage disposal working at its best, use plenty of cold water when you turn it on. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. Grease will stay solid and go through your drain with cold water; you don’t want gooey grease in your pipes.

TIP! Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. Sinks use overflow holes if they start to overfill, and this isn’t usually a problem, but it can be.

When replacing your shower head, pay attention to the quality of the replacement head. Most times, people tend to think that it is alright to purchase the most inexpensive shower head they could find. The problem with this is that they are not very sturdy and can break much easier.

Lint Trap

TIP! If you want to save a lot of time and money on plumbing repairs, prevention is the best weapon you have in your arsenal. Drain clogs are a common plumbing expense.

You should always clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Inspect your lint trap often to see if there are any tears or holes. If there are, you can have lint getting into your pipes, and this will clog them and give you more problems that will have to be dealt with.

TIP! Frozen pipes can cause a lot of damage and cost you money. However, most of the time, you can prevent this from happening.

Try not to use drain cleaners too often, it at all. The chemicals found in drain cleaners are very corrosive, and can end up damaging your pipes if you use them too much. If you discover that you have a blocked drain, the best course of action is to hire a professional to call by and examine it for you.

TIP! You have not choice in the matter of what plumber is scheduled sometimes, but you should still research different plumbers online. Even if your insurer determines your plumber, you should go to their website and read any available consumer reviews to reinforce your faith in their abilities.

If you are having trouble removing clean out plugs, there are a couple ways in which to resolve this. A hammer and chisel can be used to slacken the fitting. Your other option to try is to chisel through the out plug.

Look for online reviews to check out and help choose potential plumbers. Check out your plumber’s website and read all of the reviews that are available.

TIP! Don’t just throw any old hot water tank into your water heater. Match the tank size with the heater for maximum efficiency.

Watch for toilet leaks. A simple way to check this is to put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Keep your eye on the toilet bowl; if you notice colored water, you can safely assume that you are dealing with a leak.

TIP! When installing a brand new water heater, if you see a pipe from the drainage pipe, reconnect it. This is probably a recirculation pipe.

Take the time to ensure that everyone in your family knows how to cut off the water from the valve in your home. It is likely very close to your water meter. Toilets and sinks might have a cut-off valve of their own. You will want to make your family aware of the location of each valve, and add markings that give directions on how to shut each one off whenever an emergency arises.

TIP! If you want to go green try purchasing a water heater that is tankless. Unlike a conventional water heater, these do not store any water, and heat up the water only as it is needed.

Read the labels and choose a chemical drain cleaner with care. Certain cleaners have strong chemical agents which will cause damage to the pipes. Ensure you’re choosing a brand advertised as being a gentle one for your pipes. Most are quite caustic, and some can be harmful if you have a septic system.

TIP! When looking for plumbing fixtures, give strong consideration to those made of brass. To start, brass fixtures are more durable and lasts for a longer period of time.

Now that you have read all of the tips, you are probably excited to get to work, and do your own plumbing. It is hoped that the results you receive are exactly what you wanted. If not, keep trying new methods until you are happy with the results.

Overflow Holes

Lint Trap

Related Posts