In dealing with plumbing issues, be mindful that a number of complications can arise. You may be able to fix some problems easily, while others will take more effort. Whatever the case might be, it is crucial that you have some education about plumbing so a problem can be repaired in a timely fashion.
To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, even if the house is vacant. If the temperature surrounding the pipes is anywhere below freezing, this can cause the pipes to freeze. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
Septic Tank
To keep your septic tank in good working order, it is advisable to have it pumped out every five years. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. It may be a bit expensive to pump a septic tank, but it will be very expensive to clean up an emergency sewage problem.
Do not pay your plumber until they finish the job. You may be required to put some money down before a job is started, but never pay the total cost until you know the job has been completed correctly. Agree with the plumber in advance on the job and payment.
You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. These tablets have chemicals that can damage rubber parts that are essential to the proper functioning of your toilet.
Inspect around the toilets for softness in the floors to see if any damage has occurred. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth. When you have a problem like this to deal with, the earlier you detect it, the less expensive it will be to take care of.
Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. Every time you have large particles in the strainer of the kitchen sink, it should be cleaned thoroughly. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.
Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. You can save money by only paying a single service call fee instead of ending up with multiple hours being billed from multiple visits.
Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. The blades will stay sharper, and the overall disposal process will run smoother. Hot water liquifies grease and causes it to buildup in the drain, causing clogs in the pipes.
Lint Trap
Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This will ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires. See to it that you look at the lint trap and find out if it has tears or holes in it that could cause lint to go inside your pipes. This could lead to clogs or other problems in the future.
Applying prevention measures is key to preventing plumbing issues. One of the most common repairs involves fixing drain clogs. This is because pipes can retain and trap hair, and other particles, very easily. You can stop this by using a screen or drain cover that is designed to keep hair out of your drain and pipes. Most objects will not fall through the drain cover, and even hair usually won’t make it through.
Frozen pipes can lead to a large plumbing bill. Thankfully, you can prevent your pipes from freezing. Insulate your outside pipes. Secondly, when the temperature begins to drop, you want to drain and disconnect the hoses, then make sure you turn the outside faucet off. Doing this can help save a lot of plumbing repair bills.
If there’s grout stuck inside your line, it’s most likely will be a losing cause if you try to fix it all by yourself. The grout can be broken in order to send it further down the line. Plastic pipes, if you have them, will work better than metal. Usually, however, you will need to hire a professional for this issue.
Drain Cleaners
Try not to use drain cleaners if you can. Drain cleaners contain very corrosive chemicals that can damage pipes if used too frequently. Rather than using drain cleaners, hire a plumber to fix your blockage problems.
Don’t just use any drain cleaner. Sometimes they have very harsh chemical agents that damage your pipes. Ensure you’re choosing a brand advertised as being a gentle one for your pipes. Not all chemical cleaners are good for your pipes–or for you. Some chemicals are toxic to humans. In addition, if a cleaner attacks bacteria indiscriminately, it may destroy helpful bacteria that keep the plumbing system running smoothly.
When installing your new water heater, make sure you reconnect the pipe that is extending from your drainage. This could be a recirculation pipe. This kind of pipe helps keep your water hot without wasting any of it.
As mentioned above, there are many problems your plumbing can have. These range from minor repairs to major disasters. By applying the helpful advice of this article, hopefully you will be successful in dealing with whatever plumbing problems arise in your future.