Plumbing Tips To Help You With Home Plumbing Needs

You need to take care of any plumbing situation properly. At first, you may need to get help from several sources, but then use these tidbits to begin work.

TIP! To ensure garbage disposal lasts long in your home, be sure you keep it cleaned regularly. You can use dish soap, lemon peels, and cherry pits to get your garbage disposal clean and fresh and running well.

It’s easy to fix noisy pipes which squeak or sound like hammering. Anchor any pipes that are exposed. You may need to hire a professional to help with any projects involving pipes that are hidden in the floors, ceiling or walls.

TIP! Whenever you have plumbing work that needs to be done, you should schedule all problems at one time. It can be tempting to call a plumber each time you have a minor problem, but saving plumbing work for one time allows you to put money aside for the repairs.

To maintain a clean, well-functioning septic tank, it is recommended that you clean it out once every five years. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.

TIP! If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. Cold water keeps blades sharp and allows for smoother disposal.

Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. While these tablets may be an easy way to clean your toilet and hide odors, they also contain chemicals that can break down the rubber fixtures in your toilet. Long-term use of these products can slow or even stop the functioning of your toilet.

TIP! Superior quality is important when it comes to shower fixtures. People often times incorrectly believe that it’s alright to buy a cheap shower head.

If you have a clogged toilet with the water level very low, and plunging it isn’t working, it’s possible to resolve this by pouring warm water from a bucket directly into the toilet bowl from about waist level. Repeat this as many times as necessary until your clog is gone, and you can flush normally once again.

TIP! Enzyme-based cleaners are the best bet for unclogging stubborn clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes.

Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. Clean the kitchen sink strainer any time something collects in it. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.

TIP! Make sure to clean out the dryers lint trap. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety.

Don’t put fat, grease and other oils into the drain. These substances will clog the drain as they cool and harden. Your garbage disposal is particularly vulnerable to this issue, as the fat solids will slow the motion of the blades. This results in the disposal operating less efficiently. Pour the grease and oil into a can to cool, put it in the trash.

TIP! In order to keep your plumbing bills as low as possible, keep in mind prevention is key. One major repair is a drain clog.

If your home has a well for water and there are pink or orange stains in the sinks and tubs, this could be due to high iron content in your water. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.

Garbage Disposal

TIP! Cleaning an aerator can remove sediment buildup that causes low water pressure. Take the aerator apart and clean it with a brush and some vinegar.

Run cold water through your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly. Don’t use hot water while running the garbage disposal. Hot water converts the grease in your trash to liquid form. When the liquified grease goes down the drain, it clogs the pipes.

TIP! There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. 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.

To save a significant amount of cash on your energy bill, install energy-efficient shower heads in all of your showers. 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! Avoid using drain cleaners as much as possible. The chemicals in these type of cleaners are corrosive, and they could damage your pipes by using them too much.

When it is time to replace your shower head, you should consider paying a little more for a better one. It’s common to think it’s fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. 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.

TIP! If you require the services of a plumber, be sure to check them out prior to hiring them. A plumber that is not skilled in a particular task could actually aggravate the problem.

If you have clogged pipes and thinking about using a pipe cleaner, one that is enzyme based is highly recommended. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.

Plumbing Repair

TIP! Avoid chemical based drain openers when you need to deal with drain clogs. While these can open it up, their chemicals can harm your body, particularly if they come in contact with your skin.

Frozen pipes can cause you to incur expensive plumbing repair bills. Fortunately, such damage is easy to prevent. The most important step is to keep any pipes close to the outside, well insulated. Before the cold season arrives, you should disconnect your hoses, drain them and store them. Outdoor faucets should be shut off, too. Doing this could help save lots of cash related to plumbing repair bills.

TIP! Installing a water heater with no tank is a great idea if you like to be environmentally friendly. Unlike conventional water heaters, they store no water, and instead heat the water only as needed.

When running your garbage disposal, plumbers recommend using only cold water to help ease food particles down the drain. Most plumbers advise that you run water when using your garbage disposal, although many disagree. It can even cause what you put down the disposal to stick, causing damage to the unit.

TIP! To help you save time and money, you should group all of your plumbing problems for one visit. Jot down all of your plumbing problems prior to calling the plumber.

You may not have a choice when selecting a plumber for your residence, but you can look them up and view their credentials. If your insurer has just given you the name of a plumber, see if they have a website, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.

TIP! If you notice that there is any water puddling around your water heater, you should be sure to use the water shut off valves as soon as you notice it. If you don’t, that small leak could become a big leak that can be hard to shut off.

If you are ready to tackle your plumbing issues, be sure to use these tips to get through the process. It’s great to save cash by making your own repairs, but when you have to call in the pros, be sure to use the right ones. Think about using these tips to help yourself.

Related Posts