From time to time, we all have plumbing questions. Some of us may need to know how to do general repair work, while others simply want to gain knowledge on doing general maintenance. This article problem helps with both so that people may be prepared for all kinds of plumbing emergencies.
If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Anchoring exposed pipes will decrease the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
In order to prevent any pipes within your home from freezing, you should never let the home temperature get below freezing. Always insulate pipes exposed to elements. Pipes can freeze when the ambient temperature in the area of the pipes dips below freezing. It takes time for thawing to occur so you can have water again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.
If your water pipe freezes, switch on the nearest faucet tap to that pipe so that water can exit when the pipe thaws. This can prevent damage to your house because it lets the pressure that is in the pipe out, and keeps it from bursting.
Feel the floors around the toilets to see if they are soft; this will help you know if you have any damage. Stand over the toilet, then rock it back and forth to see if any weakening in the floor has occurred. You can wind up saving your money simply by noticing the problem early on.
Place a strainer over the drains to collect anything that could clog and cause stoppage. Clean your kitchen strainer often, particularly if you can see debris accumulating. You should also clean your bathtub strainer any time it is slow to drain.
Don’t put things like fat, oil or grease down your drains. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. A garbage disposal can even become clogged by hardened grease and it will not run at optimum speed and efficiency. The best thing to do is to dispose of oil-based liquids away from your sinks.
Water that leaves behind pink or orange tinged stains has an excessive amount of iron. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.
An incorrectly installed hose from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher can cause unwanted water to drain into the dishwasher. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
Always buy a high quality fixture if you are going to replace your shower head. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. Inexpensive shower heads are not terribly sturdy, though, and may not hold up to daily use.
Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. The enzyme cleaners typically are the best things you can find on the market.
Clean the aerator to fix low water pressure issues that are caused by the buildup of sediment. After removing the aerator, disassemble it, and use a small brush that’s been dipped in vinegar to clean it. Rinse the aerator, reassemble it and reattach it to the faucet. Remove the sediment from the aerator to increase water pressure.
Running cold water while using your garbage disposal is recommended even though some people insist that you don’t have to. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. Water can cause food to stick to the moving parts, and this could create damage.
Rarely used valves can fuse together. Maintain the water valves every so often with a qualtiy penetrating oil, turning each of them every now and then to prevent them from sticking.
If you are searching for someone to do your plumbing work, check out the Consumer Affairs Department. You can check for valid licenses and negative reviews. If their license is questionable or expired, you won’t want to hire them to do work for you.
You should always know where the main water cut-off valve is located on your property. Where the water enters from the main line, should be a meter for tracking water usage. Many fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, will have their own valves to shut off the water to them. Show each family member the location of the valves, and mark them so people can turn them off in an emergency.
If you are starting to install a water heater and see a pipe going out from the drainage area, be sure to reconnect that pipe. This pipe is likely for recirculating hot water, which makes a significant difference in water-heater efficiency.
Washing Machine
If your washing machine drain overflows, try using a run of the mill pipe snake in it. Occasionally, lint or other small items from the washing machine can build up in the pipe, causing it to clog or back up.
For those who are conservation minded, purchasing a water heater that is tankless is a wise investment. They don’t need to hold water in a reserve, instead they heat it as it passes through on an as-needed basis. This saves lots of money on energy by not heating water that is not being used currently.
It is important to educate yourself in advance before a problem arises. If you do maintenance regularly, you can prevent problems. Keep these tips handy so you’ll be prepared for any future plumbing need.