If you don’t know what you’re doing when it comes to plumbing, you might find the whole situation a big headache. Professional plumbers charge a premium amount and require a long waiting period; most plumbing issues are easy fixes that even an amateur can do. Read this article to learn the best ways to fix plumbing problems.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy problem to fix. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. You might have to call a professional to help finish the project if pipes are in floors, ceiling or walls.
Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. These things may help improve smells, but they can damage the rubber components of a toiler, which can cause it to function improperly or even worse, completely break down.
If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water returns back to a lower level.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. You can save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.
Garbage Disposal
Clean your garbage disposal regularly to prolong the life of your disposal. By incorporating a regular cleaning routine, your garbage disposal can stay running smoothly. One way to clean your disposal is to run dish detergent and lemon rinds through your garbage disposal. As an added benefit, this technique will also eliminate any scents from your disposal.
Have all the plumbing repairs done in one visit. You might be tempted to contact a plumber every time you face a small problem, but if you have problems repaired all at once, you will have time to save money for the fixes. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one visit to your home.
By installing water-conserving shower heads in your bathrooms, you can save money on your monthly water bill. Most of our hot water is used in the shower. When you invest in energy-efficient shower heads, you will save around $100 a year for every shower head.
To keep possible toilet problems as small as possible, you should prevent using it like it’s a trash can. Keep away from flushing improper items down the toilet, like cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or feminine hygiene products. These types of items can clog your toilet as they do not dissolve. Don’t flush massive amounts of toilet paper at once, either. Most of the time, you shouldn’t need a lot of toilet paper to clean yourself; don’t use more than necessary. If you have an emergency that requires a lot of cleaning, flush toilet paper a little bit at a time instead of all at once.
Don’t skimp on quality when it’s time to replace that shower head. Many times, people think it is okay to buy the cheapest shower head that they can find. Like many cheap products, however, cheap shower heads are often not durable.
Do not use a drain cleaner if you can help it. The chemicals in those kinds of drain cleaners can be corrosive and might damage pipes if you keep using them. Consider hiring a professional when you have drain problems.
Clean out plugs can be extremely tricky to remove; they tend to stick easily. Here are two ways you can use to deal with a stubborn plug. You can use a hammer and a chisel to attempt to make the fitting looser. If that fails, you must chisel a hole in the plug.
Do this little test to investigate whether your toilet leaks. An excellent method of checking this is by dropping a few food coloring drops in the tank of the toilet. If you then see colored water in the toilet bowl shortly after, you know a problem exists that needs tended to.
If sewage is overflowing your toilet, then check the connection between your home’s sewage line and the city sewage line. If you cannot take care of this blockage, a professional will have to come out and run a snake through the line in order to clear it.
The valves will fuse together if they are not used. Keep them lubricated using penetrating oil. Be sure to turn them periodically to avoid sticking.
Choose drain cleaners wisely. Some of them contain strong chemical agents that will damage your pipes. Choose a brand that claims to be easy on pipes. Some chemicals can kill the beneficial bacteria in your pipes which are needed so your plumbing system can work correctly. Additionally, some of these chemical can also be dangerous to you and your family.
If you are installing a new water heater and you notice a pipe extending from the drainage pipe, make sure this pipe is reconnected. This could be one of the recirculation pipes, which helps your water stay warm without wasting it.
When the task you’re working on is outdoors, make sure to not overexpose yourself to the sun. Just because you’re used to the heat when you work in the sun doesn’t mean you’re not at risk of heat stroke.
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!