TIP! To keep your pipes from getting frozen, always maintain a temperature in the house above freezing and make sure all pipes exposed to outside elements are insulated properly. Pipes can freeze when the ambient temperature in the area of the pipes dips below freezing.

If you know how to maintain your plumbing, it will be helpful in the future. But, there will be times when the plumbing in your home will need some work and professionals are out of reach. This article lays out some effective tips for repairing and maintaining your plumbing.

TIP! You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house.

If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. Pipes that are contained within the floors, walls and ceilings may need to be attended by a professional plumber.

Frozen Pipes

TIP! Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. While they are good at removing odors, they have a detrimental effect on the parts of the toilet that are rubber.

To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. In the best situation, it can take hours for frozen pipes to thaw and water to run freely again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.

TIP! If something is wrong with the disposal in your sink, avoid the temptation to stick your hand in there to fix it. Garbage disposals are dangerous, even when turned off.

If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. Do this as often as necessary if the water level dips back down again.

TIP! Place a strainer on top of every drain so that you collect all debris that has the ability to clog the drain. Your kitchen sink strainer must be cleaned whenever it catches anything.

Never reach into your garbage disposal with bare hands, even if there is a serious problem with it. Garbage disposals are dangerous, even when turned off. Try to find a diagram, or troubleshooting guide for your particular disposal on the Internet.

TIP! Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes.

Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. For example, don’t flush sanitary pads or diapers down your toilet. These items can clog the pipes. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.

Lint Trap

TIP! If water is draining into a dishwasher, it is probably because the hose attached to the sink is not installed correctly. This hose should lead uphill first and then downhill so the water from the sink and the dishwater never mix.

Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Check your lint trap for holes to make sure the lint is not going in your plumbing system.

TIP! When your pipes have clogs and you are thinking of using a pipe cleaner, choose a cleaner that is enzyme based. These will utilize natural bacteria to transform sludge into a liquid that can be removed.

If you want to save a lot of time and money on plumbing repairs, prevention is the best weapon you have in your arsenal. Drain clogs are a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly. Hair can clog drains. Stop hair from going down drains with a drain cover or screen designed for this purpose. Getting the hair off the screen is much simpler than removing it from the pipe.

TIP! If grout is stuck in your plumbing, getting rid of it is likely not going to be a do it yourself project. Do your best to break it up and flush it down.

Cold weather can cause expensive plumbing repairs if your pipes freeze. It can also be easily prevented. Find out if all of your outdoor pipes are properly insulated. When wintertime comes, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. Doing this could help save lots of cash related to plumbing repair bills.

TIP! Even if you only have one choice, research your plumber before he arrives. When your insurance company takes care of choosing a plumber for you, it is important to still look at their website, reviews and any customer comments they have.

If your home has low water pressure, you can often fix the problem by cleaning out the aerators on your fixtures. First, you should remove and disassemble the aerator. Next, clean it with a brush that has been dipped in white vinegar. Rinse it and put it back on the faucet. Removing obstacles in aerators should improve the water pressure.

TIP! Those valves will rarely get fully used but can fuse together. Periodically turn these valves off and one.

A good tip to use when using your garbage disposal is to leave the water turned off. It is a common misconception that water will aid in flushing the food down the drain. Some things can stick to the disposal, and cause it to become damaged beyond repair.

TIP! Tankless water heaters are a green option for the eco-friendly consumer. Tankless water heaters heat on demand rather than keeping a large amount of water constantly hot.

There are two ways to remove clean out plugs. You can use a hammer and a chisel to attempt to make the fitting looser. Your only other choice is chiseling directly through the actual plug itself.

TIP! Choosing to purchase brass for your plumbing fixtures is an excellent choice if you are going to replace them. Brass fixtures last much longer and tend to be more durable.

Be certain that your toilet does not leak. A simple way to check this is to put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Keep your eyes on the toilet bowl, and if the colored water seeps into the bowl, you know that there is an issue with your toilet that you will need to take care of soon.

TIP! Some items, such as bananas, carrots, pumpkin and chicken skins are terrible for blades and they can be caught in the drain and clog it. Separate out these problem foods first, and throw them in a garbage can before dumping waste into the garbage disposal.

A sewage backup into the toilet is caused by problems often deep within the sewage line. When your personal efforts can’t deal with such a clog, your only option is to have the line snaked out by a professional plumber.

TIP! Hot water running through your copper plumbing lines can cause some minor expansion in the pipes. This means pipes won’t fit properly with pipe hangers and can cause damage and cause deterioration of the pipes.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is a great place to check if you need a plumbing contractor. You should verify that they hold a valid licence and look over any bad feedback filed against them. They need to have a valid license, or they should not do any work in homes.

TIP! If you notice that there is any water puddling around your water heater, you should be sure to use the water shut off valves as soon as you notice it. If you do not, you may find that a small leak could turn to a large leak, and will be more difficult to shut off.

Plumbing can be a nightmare, because it can cause a lot of damage to a home. Luckily, there is an easy solution to avoid a disaster. If you know how to locate the water register for your home, then you can easily prevent water damage.

TIP! Purchasing plumbing tools can really prove as a wise investment, costing you a little more upfront, but saving you a bundle in the long run. Just Google the repair you need, and you are sure to find a helpful video to explain how to do it.

Water heaters often have a pipe that reaches from the drain pipe and this must be reconnected during installation of a new unit. This is probably the re-circulation pipe. It is handy for enabling the most efficient water usage.

TIP! Make sure that any pipes that are exposed are receiving some form of heat in order to prevent freezing during the cold seasons. When the temperatures drop, water in the pipes may freeze.

There is no shortage of amateurs in the plumbing field, so if you have the time and resources, consider adding an apprentice to your roster. This will not just give you an inexpensive helping hand, it will also allow you to show an interested person the ins and outs of plumbing.

TIP! Make sure that you are doing regular maintenance on your pipes to prevent sink and faucet leaks. 150 gallons worth of water can get wasted in one day because of a leak, so make sure that you are looking for moisture around your pipes, or any small leaks.

If your home has copper pipes, when you are running hot water, they will tend to expand a little. They can slip from their hangers and make noise or even cause damage. The pipe should be taped where it meets the hanger to keep this from happening.

TIP! While you are winterizing your home, you should check to make sure your hot water heater is working correctly. Because your tank won’t have to work so hard heating the water, you could save money on utility bills during cold months.

As you can see, there are many tips and tricks that you can use to fix the plumbing in your home. Start using these tips at home to keep your plumbing running smoothly, repair your own plumbing emergencies, and save money by eliminating the need to hire a professional plumber.

Frozen Pipes

Lint Trap

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