When you have to start repairing and maintaining your plumbing, you might wonder where to start. There are a lot of things to think about after all, from buying tools and equipment to following directions and local regulations. Continue reading to find all the knowledge you’ll need to fix your own plumbing and even install new fixtures!
Plumbing that constantly squeaks, pounds, and emits other noises is irritating but, fortunately, the problem is often easily fixed. You will need to anchor any exposed pipes. You might have to call a professional to help finish the project if pipes are in floors, ceiling or walls.
You plumbing experiences will go much smoother if you know your tools, and have the knowledge of how to use each one. Study before any do it yourself project by reading any relevant manuals, going online and even making trips to your local public library. Prior to attempting any repairs, be certain to plan ahead in order to avoid expensive errors.
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 can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.
If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.
Use filters on all drains to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. Clean out the one in the kitchen whenever there’s something trapped there that shouldn’t be. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.
If your home uses well water and orange or pink stains become noticeable in your bathtub or in other fixtures, this occurs when the water has too much iron. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.
In order to ensure that your garbage disposal will last for as long as your home, keep it clean on a regular basis. By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
Overflow Holes
Check your fixtures to ensure the overflow holes are clear of debris and mineral build-up. Overflow holes are one of those things which you forget about until you need them. Clear the overflow holes periodically when you are doing your periodic checks for other problems and things that need to be repaired.
If the hose that leads to your kitchen sink has not been maintained or installed properly, you may notice that water is constantly draining to the dishwasher. The hose leading from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher must lead uphill and then back downhill in order to prevent mixing of water from both devices.
To reduce your plumbing repair costs, use preventative maintenance measures. One major repair is a drain clog. Hair can clog drains. Put a drain cover or a screen that is made to protect drains over your drain so that hair cannot get in. It’s more convenient to remove hair before it has a chance to get down the drain and into the pipes.
Garbage Disposal
When running your garbage disposal, plumbers recommend using only cold water to help ease food particles down the drain. Most plumbers advise that you run water when using your garbage disposal, although many disagree. The truth is that water could make garbage stick to the disposal, which might create a problem later.
If sewage is overflowing your toilet, then check the connection between your home’s sewage line and the city sewage line. If you have difficulty removing this blockage, call a company that has special equipment to clear the line, usually a plumber’s snake.
Prepare for the cold winter months by checking that your outdoor faucets are not dripping or leaking. If they are, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing. No matter what material your pipes are constructed from, the additional pressure that results from freezing water will crack them. The tiniest cracks might create water damage or cause water to flood into your house.
Before hiring a plumber, check their credentials against the local licensing agency or municipal authority. It is important to verify that they have a valid license and to check on any complaints that may have been made against them. Only hire contractors with a current, active license. It is a very bad idea to get involved with any contractor that does not maintain a current license.
Dealing with water is only one aspect of plumbing. A competent plumber needs to master a variety of additional skills. One of the common and important things plumbers deal with is repairing water lines.
For some folks, plumbing can cause anxiety since they think it is something which can cause major damage to their home. This can be avoided if you know just one thing. Know where you can find the water register in your home, and how you can turn it off.
As you’ve seen, plumbing is not that complicated. You just need to cover all the bases. A little research, along with some common sense, will give you the basics you need to get started on your particular job.