Plumbing Advice That Everyone Should Know About

TIP! If you have a pipe that freezes, you should turn on the faucet that is close to the pipe; this way, the water has a place to go. Doing so provides pressure relief, and might spare you the damage of a burst pipe.

An essential component of managing a home is to have excellent working plumbing. Somethings you can take care of yourself, but other issues will require a professional. The following tips will make it easy to take good care of your plumbing.

TIP! Never put your hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off.

To keep your pipes from getting frozen, always maintain a temperature in the house above freezing and make sure all pipes exposed to outside elements are insulated properly. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. The best case scenario is that you can heat the pipes and the water will start flowing again. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.

Septic System

TIP! Don’t put oil, grease or fat into your drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains.

Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. 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.

TIP! Don’t use your toilet like a trash can, and you minimize potential problems. Don’t flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn’t dissolve, as these can clog it.

Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. Some plumbers may require a deposit, but don’t fork over all the dough until the job is completed to spec. You need to know the plumber did what he promised before he is reimbursed for the entire amount.

TIP! If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. This type of cleaner uses natural bacteria to transform sludge into liquid, that makes it disappear from the pipes.

You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. It may help to get rid of your toilet’s odors, but it will damage any rubber parts, causing your toilet to malfunction, or even break down.

TIP! You need to make sure that your lint trap is clean for your dryer. This could prevent you from a tons of trouble, and it can also prevent fires.

You can unclog a toilet by pouring warm water in the bowl from waist level. This procedure can be repeated if the water level again returns to a level that is too low.

TIP! Frozen pipes can do very extensive and expensive damage. Fortunately, frozen pipes are easy to prevent.

Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains. Oils are especially damaging to garbage disposals. Pour the grease and oil into a can to cool, put it in the trash.

Garbage Disposal

TIP! If sewage backs up into a toilet in your home, there is likely a clog in the line that connects your sewer line to your main line. If you are unable to handle the issue on your own, you will need to hire a professional who can use a snake to unclog the line.

Cleaning your in-sink garbage disposal can extend its lifetime significantly. You can use dish soap, lemon peels, and cherry pits to get your garbage disposal clean and fresh and running well.

TIP! As we near the winter months, you should check that none of your outdoor faucets are drippy or leaking water. If they are, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing.

Make sure all the work on your plumbing is scheduled at one time. This allows you to save up for necessary parts and equipment while saving money on hiring a professional. This will cut down on your plumbing bill because they can not charge you for extra trips.

TIP! There are a variety of skills related to plumbing, not just ones that have to do with water. A common task for a plumber is repairing water lines.

Check the overflow holes for clogs. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. Clear the overflow holes periodically when you are doing your periodic checks for other problems and things that need to be repaired.

Energy Efficient

TIP! To improve your home’s water-hating efficiency, you should figure out the right size water tank to provide enough hot water for the whole household. Purchasing the proper size tank can be assessed ahead of time and thus greatly improve the availability of hot water when needed.

Install low flush toilets and energy efficient shower heads and faucets to reduce your utility bills. Most of the hot water we use is used while we are showering. If you use energy efficient heads for your showers, you can save hundreds each year on your bills.

TIP! If your washing machine’s drain stack overflows, snake it with a regular pipe snake. Sometimes lint can clog your drain stack, causing it to get backed up and overflow.

Do not use your toilet to get rid of garbage. Don’t flush paper towels, diapers, cotton balls, tissues or any other materials besides toilet paper. These items don’t dissolve and can cause clogs. Additionally, use the minimum amount of toilet paper required to clean up after you are done.

TIP! Rest for a while after doing work outdoors for a long time. When you are absorbed in your work, it isn’t hard to ignore the sun’s heat, but it still poses a danger to you.

If you have pipes that are clogged, try a cleaner that is enzyme based. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your pipes.

TIP! If you’ve got copper pipe, it could expand as you put hot water through it. When they expand and contract over a period of time, they will not fit properly in their hangers and can grind and wear against them causing damage.

If you take care of your plumbing, you will have lower plumbing bills. Drain clogs are a common plumbing expense. Drains are frequently clogged by hair. Putting a strainer on your drain can solve this problem. Make sure you clean the hair from the screen regularly. This should be much easier than cleaning a drain.

TIP! If you notice a puddle of water surrounding your water heater, shut off the water at the valve right away. If you dawdle, the leak could become worse and it will be difficult to prevent major damage from occurring.

No matter what plumber you use, you should know a little about him before he comes to the door. Even if your insurance company assigns a plumber to you, you can get online and learn his name and the quality of his work. You’ll be more comfortable with the plumber if you read about other customers’ experiences with him.

TIP! Some homeowners put in flood lights with their plumbing system. Flood alarms are similar to smoke alarms.

It is important to know where your cut-off valve is for the water on your property. There should be a nearby water meter. 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.

TIP! Keep heat on exposed pipes to prevent freezing in the winter. The water in exposed pipes could freeze, causing some nasty plumbing headaches, when the weather gets really cold.

Pick the drain cleaner you use carefully. Sometimes they have very harsh chemical agents that damage your pipes. Pick a brand that will be gentle on your pipes. Some drain cleaners can kill bacteria that is essential to your plumbing system and could even put your family in danger.

TIP! Make sure to replace heavily used parts of your plumbing system if you notice wear. While it is possible to patch some issues caused by damaged pipes, these are not permanent fixes.

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. These pipes help to recirculate the water in the tank, keeping it hot while using less water and energy.

TIP! Drain and disconnect your hoses before winter comes. If you don’t drain them and then disconnect them, it can be damaging to the pipes that go through your house.

As already revealed, there are many useful tips to help you keep your plumbing working well and to prevent common problems. If you use these tips, you will be able to fix the vast majority of your plumbing problems without needing to call in a professional.

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