TIP! In order to prevent any pipes within your home from freezing, you should never let the home temperature get below freezing. Always insulate pipes exposed to elements.

A little bit of knowledge about plumbing can save you a lot of money. Maybe you have always wanted to learn a bit about it, but just never had the time available. If so, keep reading. This article is packed with useful tips and tricks for bringing out your inner plumber.

TIP! To deal with a frozen pipe, turn on the faucet closest to the pipe. This gives the water a place to exit as the pipe defrosts.

Plumbing that constantly squeaks, pounds, and emits other noises is irritating but, fortunately, the problem is often easily fixed. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. It may be necessary to hire a professional to address noisy pipes that are located in less accessible places in your home.

TIP! Knowing which tools to use and how you should use them is an important skill when it comes to plumbing. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues.

You don’t want to end up with frozen pipes, so take preventive action, such as wrapping outside pipes with insulation, and keeping indoor temperatures above freezing at all times. But, be advised that your pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature near those pipes is less than freezing. If they freeze, it will be awhile for them to gradually warm. Therefore, it will take some time for you to have running water again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.

TIP! Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. Either kind of toilet tablet might break down obnoxious smells in your toilet, but they might also break down the rubber parts, resulting in malfunction.

Do not pay anything until the problem is fixed. 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. It will make you feel better knowing that your problem has been solved before parting with a large sum of money.

TIP! If your toilet happens to be clogged, and the plunger is not working, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, but be sure to pour it from a height that is waist level or above so you do not flood the bathroom. The water needs to be at a low level again in order to repeat the process.

You can resolve most toilet clogs yourself. Try a plunger first. If plunging the toilet doesn’t seem to clear up a clog, check the toilet’s water level. If it’s too low, try filling a bucket with warm water. Open the toilet’s tank, and pour the water in. You could repeat this process again if the water in the toilet bowl gets low.

TIP! Never use your bare hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off.

Make sure that you’re always cleaning your garbage disposal regularly. Doing this will save you from having to repair or replace an expensive piece of equipment in the future. Prevent unsavory disposal odors through regular use of citrus peel, cherry pits and dish detergent.

TIP! Think about what plumbing work you need, then schedule them all at once. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but having multiple repairs done at once allows you to save up for the cost.

Schedule all your plumbing work at the same time. It can be tempting to call a plumber each time you have a minor problem, but saving plumbing work for one time allows you to put money aside for the repairs. It is a lot more cost effective as you will only be paying for one call-out fee instead of multiple trips.

TIP! Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper.

Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. Plug the drain afterwards or cover it with a washcloth, as the two chemicals are going to react with each other. Wait for a little while, and then pour boiling water down the drain. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.

TIP! Check overflow holes to make sure there’s no clog. The overflow holes are there to make sure the sink doesn’t overfill, which can become a problem if they are blocked.

Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. The cold water will help keep the blades nice and sharp and will allow for a much smoother disposal. If you use hot water instead of cold, it will turn any fat into liquid and cause the fat to clog your pipes when it later cools and solidifies.

Lint Trap

TIP! If you want to try a pipe cleaner because your pipes are obstructed, it is recommended you use a cleaner that is enzyme based. Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that digest through solid sludge, making it weak enough to be flushed out.

Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap of any debris. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, which can cause clogs and issues.

TIP! When water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive and costly. Fortunately, you can generally prevent your pipes from freezing.

If you want to save a lot of time and money on plumbing repairs, prevention is the best weapon you have in your arsenal. Clogs are the most commonly reported problems when it comes to plumbing issues. Built up hair can actually clog drains. You can prevent hair from getting into your drains by simply installing a device on top of your drain such as a screen, which will trap the hair from getting into the pipes. Most objects will not fall through the drain cover, and even hair usually won’t make it through.

TIP! If you get grout stuck in the plumbing, it’s going to be very difficult to remove by yourself. You can break the grout up and make it go further down the line.

Don’t run the water while putting food through your garbage disposal. Water doesn’t actually help to wash items down the garbage disposal. In fact, it could cause garbage to stick to your disposal, which can create more damage.

TIP! Don’t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful.

If you are trying to get a clean-out plug removed, but not getting very far, there are a couple of things you can do. A hammer and chisel can be used to slacken the fitting. You can also use your chisel to break the plug itself.

TIP! There are two ways to remove clean out plugs. First, you should try a hammer and chisel to loosen the clean out plug.

As you can see, it really helps to understand your home’s plumbing system. Not only will you be able to prevent unnecessary expenditures, you can be a terrific help to friends and loved ones. Hopefully you have learned from these tips and will apply these the next time you need to.

Lint Trap

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