Ensuring that your home’s plumbing is working properly is an important element of owning a home. Sometimes, your plumbing needs attention and you may not be able to afford a plumber or it may be a bad time to call one. The following tips will make it easy to take good care of your plumbing.
Don’t pay a plumber midway through the job. It is customary for many companies to require you to put money down before they begin the job, but always wait to pay the rest of the balance until the job is totally finished. It is a good thing to know the plumber did his job as he agreed to before he get’s all of his money.
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. Have everything you need by way of tools and information before you attempt a repair on your own.
If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. If the water goes down to a lower level again, then you should repeat the procedure.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Your kitchen sink strainer needs cleaning every time something big gets stuck in it. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out on a regular basis.
Don’t put fat, grease and other oils into the drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains. This can make your garbage disposal run slower. To keep your kitchen pipes clear, never dispose of grease down your sink drain.
If your house uses well water and you start to see orange or pink stains in your tub and other water fixtures, you have too much iron in your water. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.
Putting a cup of any kind of baking soda followed with a cup of white vinegar each month will keep your drain running smoothly. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. Wait a while, and then use boiling water to flush. This method clears out soap scum buildup and accumulated hair that gets caught in the pipes.
Shower Heads
Installing efficient shower heads could save you a lot of money when it comes to your energy bill. Most of the hot water we use is used while we are showering. When you invest in energy-efficient shower heads, you will save around $100 a year for every shower head.
Make sure a new shower head is of high quality. Most times, people tend to think that it is alright to purchase the most inexpensive shower head they could find. The issue with that is they’re less tough and can break.
When your pipes have clogs and you are thinking of using a pipe cleaner, choose a cleaner that is enzyme based. This type of cleaner uses natural bacteria to transform sludge into liquid, that makes it disappear from the pipes. The cleaners that have enzymes are the best you can buy.
Lint Trap
Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, which can cause clogs and issues.
If your home has low water pressure, you can often fix the problem by cleaning out the aerators on your fixtures. First, you need to remove the aerator, and then take it apart and clean it using a small brush that has been dipped in vinegar. Rinse off the aerator then reassemble and reattach to the faucet. This will improve the water pressure by clearing out blockages in the aerator.
Inspect your toilet regularly to ensure that it isn’t leaking. The easiest way to perform this test is by placing a few food coloring drops in your toilet’s upper tank. If colored water appears in your bowl soon after you put food coloring in the tank, your toilet is leaking. Fix leaks as soon as possible after you discover them.
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.
Make sure you take great care in what type of drain cleaner you use. Some drain cleaners have strong chemicals that can damage the pipes. Choose a brand known for protecting pipes. Your pipes depend on certain bacteria. If you kill off the bacteria with chemicals, your system will not run properly.
To improve your home’s water-hating efficiency, you should figure out the right size water tank to provide enough hot water for the whole household. Knowing the number of people and appliances that use hot water in your home will let you know what size hot water tank will be the best for your home.
Avoid using drain openers that contain chemicals while attempting to unclog the drain. These chemicals are caustic and can actually burn you if they come in contact with your skin. If you must use them, wear long sleeved shirts and gloves.
If you need to repair your home plumbing, you have a lot of options as to what to do. By utilizing these tips in your home, you can not only fix your plumbing in an emergency, but you can also cut costs by reducing the need for a professional plumber.