Anyone who has spent any time in a house with running water knows plumbing problems can and do happen. You may be able to fix some problems easily, while others will take more effort. Regardless of your plumbing expertise, or lack of it, you need some basic knowledge to prepare for the unexpected, and the following article will provide you with just that.
Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished the job. You may need to make a small down payment before the job has begun, but you never want to pay the entire amount until you are certain the job was completed to your satisfaction. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.
Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. They can clean the bowl and remove odors, but they also damage the soft plastic and rubber parts in and around your toilet.
If you are unable to relieve a clogged toilet with a plunger, try pouring a small bucket of water into the bowl from about waist level if the level of water in the bowl is low. Once the water is lower, do this again.
Check the floors in your bathroom for any give in order to be sure that there is no damage in the floors. Sit reversed on the toilet (facing the tank) with your feet on the floor. Rock your weight onto each foot in turn and see if you can feel any weakness or “give” in the floor. As with many problems, early detection can save you a lot of money.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. When these oils cool, they become hard and create clogs. This is most true if you use a garbage disposal, as the fat causes the blades to function slower and they will become less efficient. Get rid of any fat or oils outside or in the garbage can.
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. A water softener is the easiest way to solve hard water problems relating to rust, but you can also consult a plumber if you are unsure.
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. It is a lot more cost effective as you will only be paying for one call-out fee instead of multiple trips.
Overflow Holes
Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. The overflow holes are there to make sure the sink doesn’t overfill, which can become a problem if they are blocked. When checking for potential problems and repairs, you should also remove obstructions from the overflow holes.
If you see unwanted water that keeps draining into your dishwasher, the problem is most likely a hose running to your kitchen sink that was not correctly installed. The hose going from the dishwasher to the sink needs to angle uphill before going back downhill to prevent water from both being mixed.
If there is grout stuck in your line, it is most likely going to be a lost cause attempting to clean it all yourself. You can try dislodging some of the blockage which will open up the line. This will work better if the pipes you have are plastic instead of metal. This is a tough problem, however, that very often requires professional intervention.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. It is assumed that food will go down more smoothly if the water is running, though in reality that does nothing good. In point of fact, sending water and garbage through the disposal together can shorten its lifespan by encouraging more waste to stick to the moving parts.
If you require the services of a plumber, be sure to check them out prior to hiring them. Some plumbers may not be experienced or skilled enough to be able to handle some jobs, and can actually make the problem worse. Look up reviews for plumbers, or ask people you know for a recommendation.
Before it gets cold, you want to make certain your outside faucets aren’t dripping or leaking. If the faucets have these problems, they will have to be repaired before temperatures reach the freezing point. It does not matter if the pipes are made out of steel, copper or plastic, any water pressure from frozen water will cause them to crack. The smallest crack will allow enough water through to cause costly flooding and damage.
Take advantage of the information that you can obtain from the department or division of your state government that handles consumer affairs and protection when you are thinking of hiring a plumbing contractor. You will be able to check their license and know if people have complained about this specific contractor. They need a current license that is in good standing, and if not then you should look elsewhere.
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, then it behooves you to understand plumbing concepts to the degree that you can assess a professional plumber’s work. This will protect you against scams.
Washing Machine
You need to snake your washing machine drain stack if it overflows with a pipe snake. Your washing machine can back up if small things get caught in the pipe, like lint.
As mentioned, there are a variety of plumbing problems, from small to large. The tips that were given here should help you fix these problems with greater ease.