Proper plumbing is a vital element to home maintenance. Sometimes, you will need to pay special attention to your plumbing but it isn’t always necessary to call a plumber. This article lays out some effective tips for repairing and maintaining your plumbing.
Septic Tank Cleaned
Have your septic tank cleaned every five years to keep it in prime condition. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. 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.
Knowing all your different tools and how they are used will be a great help when you work on a plumbing job. Read your manuals and books, either online or at the library, to teach yourself do it yourself plumbing. Have a sound plan going into any do it yourself repair attempt, since mistakes will cost you dearly in money, time and stress.
Avoid using any tablets that are meant to reduce odor in and around your toilet. While these tablets may be an easy way to clean your toilet and hide odors, they also contain chemicals that can break down the rubber fixtures in your toilet. Long-term use of these products can slow or even stop the functioning of your toilet.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. They’ll also muck up your garbage disposal and cause it to be less efficient. Make sure you dispose of oils away from the sink.
Keep your garbage disposal clean and it will last longer. You can prevent annoying odors and promote smooth operation by setting up a regular cleaning routine with lemon rinds, dish soap, and even cherry pits.
Overflow Holes
Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. You may not even notice the overflow holes on your sink, but if you have a major water leak you will soon regret your apathy. Make sure to clean out the overflow holes each time you do maintenance checks on your sinks.
If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. Cold water helps the blades stay sharp and keeps the disposal running smoothly. Don’t use hot water while running the garbage disposal. Hot water converts the grease in your trash to liquid form. When the liquified grease goes down the drain, it clogs the pipes.
If you have any water in your dishwasher that should not be there, check the connection on your kitchen sink. The hose at the kitchen sink going to the dishwasher should follow a specific uphill, then downhill pattern. This prevents unwanted mixing of water between the sink and dishwasher.
Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. Even keep toilet paper use to the minimum necessary.
Lint Trap
Keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This is preventative maintenance that will prevent many problems, including fires. Make sure that you inspect the lint trap for any holes or tears that might mean lint is going to your pipes, which might lead to clogs and other problems to deal with.
Cleaning the aerator will fix low water pressure issues that are caused from sediment buildup. A small brush (an old toothbrush is ideal) dipped in vinegar will do a great job on the aerator after it’s been removed and disassembled. After cleaning it, put the aerator back together and put it back on the faucet. Your water pressure should improve because the obstructing particles or buildup have been removed.
Do not attempt to remove grout from your plumbing. You could try to break up all the grout to send it down further. It works better if you have plastic pipes instead of metal pipes. Yet keep in mind that it is probably going to take professional work to eradicate this problem for you.
There are two ways to remove stubborn clean-out plugs. A hammer and chisel can be used to slacken the fitting. Another option is chiseling through the relevant clean out plug.
Before the cold weather hits, check any outside faucets for leaks or drips. If they are, you will need to make the necessary repairs before the freezing temperatures arrive. Freezing water can cause pressure to build up, causing your pipes to crack, or burst, regardless if your pipes are constructed with steel, plastic, or metal. One small crack is all it takes to cause serious water damage to your home.
It is not necessary to call a plumber for every problem. The preceding tips have given you the ability to take care of the smaller plumbing tasks around the home. By using these tips, you will be able to repair your plumbing in case of an emergency, and you will also be able to keep costs down by not needing a professional plumber for every plumbing issue.