Homeowners who have no significant knowledge of plumbing can have a headache trying to figure out how to fix their plumbing. Not only do you have to wait for a professional to be available to help, the cost can be through the roof! Keep reading to arm yourself with some very useful plumbing advice!
If you want to maintain effective functionality in your spetic tank, pumping it out twice a decade is a really good idea. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
You do not give the plumber all the money until he is finished with his work. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but you should never have to pay in full until after everything has been correctly finished. You should make sure the plumber did a good job before you pay in full.
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Research the project you are going to attempt online, and read the manuals that come with the tools before you use them. Be sure to have a plan ahead of time before trying any type of repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Water from wells can cause orange or rust colored stains in places like bathtubs and sinks. This comes from large amounts of iron present in the water. You can combat this by using a water softener. You can either purchase it at a store, or hire a company to come to your house to set it up for you.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. You may be tempted to call a professional plumber if you have any minor issues, but saving your plumbing issues for one time can let you put that money back into repairs. It can also save money since most plumbers will charge you by the hour. Coming out just once will cut down on the time it takes, making your bill smaller.
Installing more efficient shower heads can save you tons of money on your energy bill. Most hot water is consumed in our showers. Installing the energy-efficient heads, you will be able to save in excess of $100 per year.
If you notice water draining into your dishwater, check your kitchen sink. The hose might not be installed properly. The water will not drain into the dishwasher from the sink if it is configured in an uphill and downhill position.
Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.
Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Sometimes, people will choose a shower head because it is the least expensive. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and easily break.
Lint Trap
Make sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can save you a lot of trouble, including preventing fires. Inspect your lint trap every so often for tears or holes that could cause lint to go into your pipes, this could cause clogs or other problems you will have to deal with.
Clean the buildup of sediment from your aerator to increase your water pressure if it’s low. Remove the aerator, and then take it apart so it can be cleaned with a brush that has been dipped in vinegar. Rinse the aerator, reassemble it and reattach it to the faucet. This technique causes the water pressure to rise via the removing of any blockage within the aerator.
If you have to take out the clean out plug and cannot do it, you can do it this two ways. The first method you can try is using a chisel with a hammer to get the fitting loose. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.
Check to see if you have toilet leaks. An excellent method of checking this is by dropping a few food coloring drops in the tank of the toilet. Now look at the bowl, if you see the water turning colors within seconds, you know there is a problem that much be addressed soon.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!