Well-maintained plumbing is key in keeping your home free from damage. When something goes wrong, should you fix it yourself or call a plumber? The following article offers some helpful tips on fixing and maintaining your plumbing at home.
To prevent your frozen pipes from bursting, leave the nearest faucet on to give the water a way to escape. This can prevent damage to your house because it lets the pressure that is in the pipe out, and keeps it from bursting.
You plumbing experiences will go much smoother if you know your tools, and have the knowledge of how to use each one. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues. You need to conduct research before attempting a repair, because it could be expensive to correct an error.
Garbage Disposal
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals pose a serious risk, even when flipped off. Locate your garbage disposal manual, or do an Internet search for troubleshooting advice and a diagram that illustrates your model.
Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. Straddle the toilet, then start rocking on each foot to check whether you feel softness or weakening on the floor under you. You can save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. You should clean your strainer in your kitchen anytime you have anything in it. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.
Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. When they cool, they’ll harden and clog your drain. If the sink has a garbage disposal, it will also make the blades less efficient. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.
Water from wells can cause orange or rust colored stains in places like bathtubs and sinks. This comes from large amounts of iron present in the water. A water softener is the easiest way to solve hard water problems relating to rust, but you can also consult a plumber if you are unsure.
Overflow Holes
Check to make sure that overflow holes are not clogged up. Overflow holes divert water when a sink starts to fill up. That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be a big problem if there is a clog. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.
To lessen the chances of toilet problems, do not use as a place to put trash. Don’t flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, diapers or cotton balls, because these items don’t break down and may cause clogging issues. Use the least amount of toilet paper that you can; use just as much as necessary to properly clean yourself.
Lint Trap
Make sure to clean out the dryers lint trap. This can prevent various problems, including a fire. 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.
Frozen pipes can cause you to incur expensive plumbing repair bills. This, however, is typically preventable. Insulate your outside pipes. When it gets cooler, drain and disconnect the hoses and shut off your outside faucet. Doing this could help save lots of cash related to plumbing repair bills.
When you grind things up in the garbage disposal, don’t run the water while doing so. 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. Water can cause food to stick to the moving parts, and this could create damage.
Stay away from drain cleaners! If you utilize them too often you can damage your pipes. When you have a plumbing blockage, consider calling out a professional to determine what the source of the problem is.
If you are trying to get a clean-out plug removed, but not getting very far, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you can hammer a chisel around the fitting base to loosen it. The other option is chiseling through to clean out the plug.
If you require the services of a plumber, be sure to check them out prior to hiring them. Some plumbers just don’t know how to handle certain tasks which could make the problem worse. Ask people you trust who they use when they have plumbing problems. Also remember to check online reviews of various plumbers.
You should contact your local Consumer Affairs Department before you hire any plumber. You can check for valid licenses and negative reviews. Unless a contractor’s license is in favorable standing and up-to-date, you wouldn’t want to work with them.
Make sure that you check all of the connections after doing any work on a hot water heater, especially pipes that connect to the pipe used for drainage. This pipe is probably for recirculation of the water and it works to keep energy usage to a minimum by making water heating more efficient.
By now, you have learned a number of great ways to maintain your plumbing. 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.