Plumbing issues can damage both your home and your household goods. The following article will provide you with a number of tips and tricks to address the plumbing problems you are facing.
If you have a frozen pipe, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. This helps to relieve the pressure in the pipe and may prevent bursting, which can prevent further damage to your home.
You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Septic systems can back up when the septic tank builds up sediment. This can even result in the septic system failing altogether. While you may find it costly to get your septic tank cleaned out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.
Understanding how your tools work can give you a tremendous boost when plumbing. You should read the manual with any new tool you purchase. If you don’t have the manual, look online or at your local library for more information. You should do the same amount of research on the steps required for your project. Be sure to have a plan ahead of time before trying any type of repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Garbage Disposal
Ensure that if something goes wrong in your garbage disposal that you resist any and all urges you have that might make you want to put your hands inside to fix a problem. Even when the garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous. You can look online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. You should clean your strainer in your kitchen anytime you have anything in it. You should also clean your bathtub strainer any time it is slow to drain.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. This procedure will clear the hair and soap scum out of your pipes.
You should always put plenty of cold water through your garbage disposal while it is running. The cold water keeps your blades sharp, which helps your disposal run smooth. Hot water will liquefy grease and build up inside the drain, eventually causing clogs.
You can drastically reduce your utility bills with the installation of shower heads designed for better efficiency. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home. By installing an energy-efficient shower head that might cost a few dollars, you could save at least $100 a year per person who showers in your house.
Lint Trap
Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This will ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires. Regularly check your lint trap for rips or holes which could let lint escape into your pipes and cause clogging.
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. This, however, is typically preventable. The most important step is to keep any pipes close to the outside, well insulated. When it gets cooler, drain and disconnect the hoses and shut off your outside faucet. Doing this can help save a lot of plumbing repair bills.
If you have grout in your water line, you shouldn’t try cleaning it yourself because it will be pointless. You could dislodge the grout and cause it go further down. Plastic pipes, if you have them, will work better than metal. You might have to get a professional to get rid of this issue.
Don’t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. A common misconception is that if you flow water into the disposal while you’re putting solid items down there, the process will be smoother, but that just isn’t true. Some things can stick to the disposal, and cause it to become damaged beyond repair.
Always check for leaks in and around your toilets. A great way to do to this is to drop a couple of food coloring drops into your toilet tank. If the water in the bowl turns colors, it is leaking.
Before the cold weather hits, check any outside faucets for leaks or drips. If leaks are detected, it is important to repair them before the temperature drops below freezing. Frozen water will back up in your pipes and crack them, whether they are PVC, copper, or even steel. Even a hairline crack can make enough water leak to cause a major flood in your home.
Many homeowners aren’t educated enough about plumbing. As a result, they pay far more than is reasonable for plumbing services. All homeowners should work to become educated about plumbing so they have an idea what contractors do when they come. By educating yourself, you’ll equip yourself to avoid scams or unreasonably high prices when hiring plumbers.
When installing a brand new water heater, if you see a pipe from the drainage pipe, reconnect it. This could be a recirculation pipe. This kind of pipe helps keep your water hot without wasting any of it.
Let’s face it, if you are not a plumber, you probably can’t solve a plumbing problem without a lot of headaches and hard work. All you need to do is a bit of homework and find a plumber to ask how you can fix it the right way. Help yourself and apply the tips in this article to the plumbing problems you run into.