Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t all that difficult to handle a few plumbing tasks around the home. It can be difficult, but it is much easier when have read the advice that experts have to offer. Take some tips from here to get that plumbing job done on your own terms.
If you have noisy pipes that sound like hammering or squeaking, this is something that is easy to fix. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
Stay away from bleach tablets, blue tablets for the toilet and other toilet odor removers. 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.
Keep a strainer over every drain in your house to prevent stray debris from clogging your pipes. The strainer used in the kitchen will need to be cleaned frequently. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.
Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. When they cool, they’ll harden and clog your drain. This is especially true if you have a garbage disposal, as the fat will cause the blades to run slower and less efficiently. Pour the grease and oil into a can to cool, put it in the trash.
Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. Put a rag over the drain afterward, though, to keep the chemicals from coming back up after the reaction. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Kitchen Sink
If water that is not supposed to be there is in the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. 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.
If you wish to use a pipe cleaner to clear out your clogged pipes, look for one that is enzyme-based. These cleaners use natural bacteria to turn the sludge into a liquid, and remove it from your pipes. The cleaners which use enzymes are currently rated the best available.
Prevention is vital for avoiding costly repairs to your plumbing. Drain clogs are a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly. Too much hair will clog a drain. Putting a strainer on your drain can solve this problem. It is easy to get the hair out of a screen; however, removing it from a pipe is a different story.
When running your garbage disposal, plumbers recommend using only cold water to help ease food particles down the drain. People are misguided in thinking that it will work better with the water running, but it is actually of no help. In contrast, it could actually cause garbage or waste to stick to the insides of the disposal and do more damage than good.
If a plug needs to be removed, there are a few methods you can use. The first one is to use a hammer and chisel to attempt loosening the fitting. The only other thing you can do is chisel through it.
Ensure the toilet is free of any leaks. Put food coloring in your toilet tank to test the toilet for leaks. Watch your toilet bowl, if you see some colored water, you will see that you are dealing with a issue that should be dealt with.
Verify the location of your main water valve, and cut-off, for your property There will be a water meter there or nearby. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures could have their own valves that cut off. Give all family members information about where these valves are located, and show them how to shut them off should an emergency occur.
A competent plumber will need many skills in addition to knowing the basics of water and pipes. Fixing water lines is a common thing plumbers work on.
People are often hesitant to begin home plumbing jobs because they feel they could end up making the situation much worse. This can happen, but it doesn’t have to if you know one key piece of information. Knowing where the shutoff valve is and how to get to it and turn it off is all it takes to avoid extensive water damage.
Figure out how large a tank your household requires so that you can ensure there’s enough hot water to meet your family’s needs. Knowing how many people and which appliances need heated water in your house can help you figure out the right capacity for a water heater tank.
As was discussed at the beginning of the article, while plumbing can be an extremely difficult chore for anyone to complete, it becomes significantly easier if you have the right advice and information. Use the advice from this article, and you’ll be on your way to doing your own plumbing.