Water may be needed to live, though it can be the cause of frustration for anyone that is dealing with a plumbing issue. Beside natural disasters, not many other things can cause more destruction to a home than a serious problem with plumbing. Thankfully, it doesn’t take expert knowledge to repair a problem and keep your plumbing system well maintained so that future issues are prevented.
Avoid Paying
Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. Sometimes plumbers will request a cash deposit before any work can commence; however, you avoid paying the total bill until the whole job has been finished to your satisfaction. Agree with the plumber in advance on the job and payment.
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Be sure you read everything you can from the manuals, and use different things like the library and internet to learn all the projects that are do it yourself. You need to conduct research before attempting a repair, because it could be expensive to correct an error.
Ensure that if something goes wrong in your garbage disposal that you resist any and all urges you have that might make you want to put your hands inside to fix a problem. Your garbage disposal is a dangerous device, even when turned off. Research on the Internet for diagrams, troubleshooters or FAQ’s about your disposal.
You should put a strainer over your drains to catch anything that could clog your drain up. Your kitchen sink strainer needs cleaning every time something big gets stuck in it. Kitchen filters should be changed often, while bathtub filters can be changed as needed.
Don’t put things like fat, oil or grease down your drains. When they cool, they will harden and create clogs in your drains. If the sink has a garbage disposal, it will also make the blades less efficient. Throw away oils nowhere near the sink.
If you live in a home using well water and your bathtubs have stains pink and orange in color, this is likely a result of iron levels in the well water. This is fixed by using water softener, which can be bought at a store, or you can have someone come to your home and fix it.
Use lots of cold water when you run your garbage disposal. Cold water keeps blades sharp and encourage a smoother disposal. Hot water can clog your drain by allowing liquid grease to build up in it.
Kitchen Sink
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. The hose between the kitchen sink and the dishwasher has to have a peak in the middle so that the water can’t wash back in the wrong direction.
If you need to replace your shower head, make sure that you buy a new one that is high quality. People often times incorrectly believe that it’s alright to buy a cheap shower head. Cheap shower heads are not well-made and are very likely to break. Buying a cheap shower head will end up costing you more money over the long-term.
The best way to avoid plumbing bills is to prevent problems before they happen. One of the major repairs is clogs. Drains can be clogged by hair. Put a drain cover or a screen that is made to protect drains over your drain so that hair cannot get in. You can remove hair much easier from a screen as opposed to getting it out of the inside of a pipe.
Trying to clean grout caught in a line by yourself is fruitless. You could try to break up all the grout to send it down further. This works best if your pipes are plastic rather than metal. However, ultimately it usually requires a professional to rid you of this problem.
Drain Cleaners
If possible, try not to use drain cleaners. Compounds that are ingredients in common drain cleaners are quite corrosive and can cause pipe damage if overused. Rather than using cleaners, hire a professional to look at your clogged drain.
Sometimes, you will be forced to use a certain plumber, but that doesn’t mean that looking him up on Angie’s List or a similar site isn’t a good idea. Your insurance company may schedule a plumber for you, but you can still prepare for them by looking at their website and checking out customer reviews and feedback.
Take advantage of the information that you can obtain from the department or division of your state government that handles consumer affairs and protection when you are thinking of hiring a plumbing contractor. You should verify that they hold a valid licence and look over any bad feedback filed against them. If a contractor’s license has expired or isn’t in good standing, you don’t want to hire that contractor.
It’s common for people to have bad dreams about plumbing, as they fear one little mistake could be enough to severely damage their home. Know where your main water valve is to avoid flooding in case of serious plumbing issues. You can save your home from any water damage by learning where your water register is, and how to quickly shut it off.
Savvy Homeowner
Being knowledgeable and prepared are the best ways to avoid plumbing issues. The savvy homeowner who takes the time to learn even a little about plumbing is better able to make good decisions while avoiding plumbing situations that could become dangerous. Also, that savvy homeowner who researches everything and prepares for undertaking a plumbing issue before it really begins is better able to repair the problem more quickly and easily.