Taking the time to learn the skills necessary to complete a few plumbing tasks can be extremely rewarding. It shows you take home maintenance seriously and proactively fix problems before they happen. People see this and admire it a lot. As with any other field of knowledge and skill, there are always opportunities for growth. Below are a few tips that will help you out.
If you have pipes that sound as if they’re squeaking or hammering, it’s an easy fix. You simply have to securely fasten any pipes that are exposed. Get a professional to anchor any hidden pipes if you do not wish to do some work in your floors or walls by yourself.
If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. Your plumbing can freeze if the air around it is below 32 degrees. If they freeze, it will be awhile for them to gradually warm. Therefore, it will take some time for you to have running water again. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
If you have a water pipe that freezes, have the tap closest to it turned on so the water can exit while the pipe thaws. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.
Use filters on all drains to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. Thoroughly clean the strainer on a regular basis. Bathtub strainers need regular cleaning as well.
Garbage Disposal
Keep your garbage disposal clean and it will last longer. By incorporating a regular cleaning routine, your garbage disposal can stay running smoothly. One way to clean your disposal is to run dish detergent and lemon rinds through your garbage disposal. As an added benefit, this technique will also eliminate any scents from your disposal.
Schedule all the plumbing work at one time. While you may be tempted to call the plumber whenever you have a slight problem, scheduling it all at once gives you the opportunity to save money to pay for the repairs. It also saves you money because a lot of plumbers charge by the hour–they cannot charge for multiple hours every trip if they only make one trip out.
Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. Cold water keeps the blades sharpened, giving you optimal performance whenever it is used. If you use hot water, any grease in the disposal will liquefy, causing it to accumulate further down the drain, which could cause clogs.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. Most of our hot water is used in the shower. When you install energy-efficient heads in each bathroom, you will save around 100 dollars or more per shower.
If you have unwanted water that drains in your dishwasher, it’s probably due to the kitchen sink’s hose being improperly installed. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.
Lint Trap
Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This will help your dryer to work better and may also prevent 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.
Cold weather can cause expensive plumbing repairs if your pipes freeze. Fortunately, you can generally prevent your pipes from freezing. First, ensure that all outside pipes have sufficient insulation. When it gets colder, disconnect and drain the hoses and turn the outside faucet off. Doing this can help save a lot of plumbing repair bills.
The toilet should never be leaking, so make sure. A great way to do to this is to drop a couple of food coloring drops into your toilet tank. Then, observe the bowl. If the water turns the same color as the food coloring, you know there is some sort of leak that must be fixed right away.
Seeing sewage back up through your toilet means that you probably have a blockage somewhere in your branch line which connects the sewage line and the main line. If you are not able to remove the blockage, you need to contact a professional to snake the line clear.
As the weather is becoming colder due to the coming of winter, be sure that your external faucets do not have leaks or drips. If you find a problem, you need to move quickly to repair it, lest the faucet crack. Frozen water will back up in your pipes and crack them, whether they are PVC, copper, or even steel. Even a small crack is capable of releasing enough water to damage or flood your home.
It is important to know the location of the valve that cuts off water to your house. You should see a water meter located on it or close by. Fixtures, such as toilets and sinks, may also have individual shut-off valves. Make sure the entire family is familiar with these valves, and mark the shut-off position for ease of use.
Many people fear plumbing since it may destroy their homes. 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.
You now know what you need to know, and have the equipment necessary to start doing some serious plumbing. This should help you with your problems. The advice in this piece is meant to enhance your growing body of plumbing knowledge, and you should always continue to learn. You may also have even just found out a new way to do a certain plumbing job.