Doing repairs on your plumbing system is not as hard as you would think. The right knowledge and equipment make it simpler, though. The article below is full of different tips and tactics you can try out, if you need to solve some plumbing issues.
Water hammer problems, pipe noise due to water hitting the back of the pipe, can be easily repaired. Exposed pipes need to be properly anchored. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. Pipes will begin to freeze as soon as they reach freezing temperatures. In the best case scenario, you will have to wait until they thaw so that the water runs again. However, they could burst, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.
If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. By doing this, the pipe pressure is relieved, and this should stop it from bursting, which would prevent further home damage.
Septic Tank
Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properly maintained. Septic systems can back up when the septic tank builds up sediment. This can even result in the septic system failing altogether. If the cost of pumping your septic tank seems a bit steep, remember that the cost of cleanup and repair of a failed septic system will be much higher.
Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. In some cases, you have to make a down payment prior to the first day of work. This is okay to do; however, don’t let your plumber talk you into paying the entire cost of a job before he’s finished, and never pay the whole cost before he’s even begun. You should know the plumber did his job before you pay him.
Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. These things may help improve smells, but they can damage the rubber components of a toiler, which can cause it to function improperly or even worse, completely break down.
If you have a clogged toilet with a low water level and a plunger isn’t doing the job, it’s time to try adding a bucket of lukewarm water to the toilet from a around three feet or higher. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.
Garbage Disposal
Never reach into a garbage disposal that you think isn’t working. Your garbage disposal is a dangerous device, even when turned off. You can look online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.
If your house uses well water and you start to see orange or pink stains in your tub and other water fixtures, you have too much iron in your water. You can combat this by using a water softener. You can either purchase it at a store, or hire a company to come to your house to set it up for you.
You should always put plenty of cold water through your garbage disposal while it is running. Cold water helps the blades stay sharp and keeps the disposal running smoothly. Hot water will liquefy grease and build up inside the drain, eventually causing clogs.
Applying prevention measures is key to preventing plumbing issues. Drain clogs can be expensive and are actually a major repair, one of the most common ones, too. Practically anything can get stuck in those drains and cause them to lock up, including hair, foreign objects and sediment. There are ways around this; you can use a drain cover or screen which is actually designed in order to keep your pipes and drain free of hair. It’s more convenient to remove hair before it has a chance to get down the drain and into the pipes.
If you have a need for a plumber, check the references of the person or company before hiring them. Some plumbers are not trained to take on certain tasks, and can end up making your problem much worse. Look at reviews about plumbers or ask friends and family if they know of one.
Water valves that are rarely ever used often become fused together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and rotate them every so often so they don’t stick.
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.