Water may be the source of all life, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. A plumbing malfunction could literally ruin a house and cost a lot of money. There are a lot of things homeowners can do to prevent serious plumbing problems and reduce the effects if they do happen.
To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. Pipes can freeze when the ambient temperature in the area of the pipes dips below freezing. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. However, they could burst, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.
Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished 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. Knowing the job was completed in a timely and high-quality manner is essential before paying for a plumber.
Knowing all your different tools and how they are used will be a great help when you work on a plumbing job. Read the instructions, which many people overlook, and check out the internet which has many resources to help with plumbing issues. Have everything you need by way of tools and information before you attempt a repair on your own.
Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. They can clean the bowl and remove odors, but they also damage the soft plastic and rubber parts in and around your toilet.
Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. This is especially damaging to garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades turn more slowly and less efficiently. Throw away oils nowhere near the sink.
If you have a shower head that needs replacing, be sure to get one that is good quality. Some people think that one shower head is like any other, so decide on price alone. These types of fixtures are prone to breakage and are much less sturdy.
Lint Trap
You should always clean your dryer’s lint trap. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. See to it that you look at the lint trap and find out if it has tears or holes in it that could cause lint to go inside your pipes. This could lead to clogs or other problems in the future.
Clean the aerator to if you are dealing with low water pressure issues due to sediment buildup. Get rid of the aerator, remove it, and clean it with a brush dipped in some vinegar. Then simply rinse and reattach the aerator. Doing so will assist in increasing water pressure since obstructions in the aerator are removed in this process.
Trying to clean grout caught in a line by yourself is fruitless. You can attempt to break up some of the grout which works to help the line go a bit smoother. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. Usually, however, you will need to hire a professional for this issue.
Sometimes you have no choice in what plumber you have scheduled, but you can still research them online. Check out your plumber’s website and read all of the reviews that are available.
Prepare for the cold winter months by checking that your outdoor faucets are not dripping or leaking. If they are dripping or leaking, you are going to have to have them repaired before winter actually arrives. Regardless of whether you have steel, plastic or copper pipes, the water in them expands when it freezes and will make the pipes crack. Even tiny cracks can cause a lot of flood or water damage to your home.
Locate the main water shut-off for your property before you start any DIY plumbing projects. You should be able to find the water meter close by or directly on it. Additionally, certain fixtures in your home, including sinks and toilets, may have individual cut-off valves. To prepare for an emergency, make sure that everyone in your family is familiar with the location of the valves. It also helps to mark the valves with arrows indicating the direction in which they should be turned to shut them off or turn them on.
Being educated and prepared will help you to avoid plumbing issues. Knowing the basics of maintaining good plumbing can help a homeowner to make sound decisions. It goes without saying that someone who has done research and is prepared before a problem arises will be better capable of fixing things faster.