If you invest time in learning how to do plumbing yourself, the results are demonstrable. It reflects a level of care in the maintenance of your home and the ability to address concerns in your own way. That’s an admirable quality. Like with any other skill set, you can always add and improve. Read the following hints to help.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. The strainer used in the kitchen will need to be cleaned frequently. Those in the bathtub should be cleaned out periodically, as needed.
However, if you mix a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda and send them down your tub’s drain each month, the flow will keep going smoothly. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. Doing this periodically should keep your pipes free of hair and soap scum.
Overflow Holes
You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. The overflow holes help prevent a sink from spilling. When blocked, they don’t work properly and the water can spill out onto the floor. Clear out your sink’s overflow holes every so often, while checking for any other problems or necessary repairs.
If you notice water draining into your dishwasher, check how the kitchen sink hoses are installed. Your hose must run in a hill pattern to avoid water mixing. Think of the St. Louis Arch — start from your sink, go uphill with the hose, and then down before connecting to the dishwasher. This way, only pressurized water can travel through the hose. Leakage won’t be an issue.
Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket to keep potential problems to a minimum. Never flush paper towels, tissue, diapers, or tampons. These things do not break up correctly and can clog your pipes. Use the least amount of toilet paper that you can; use just as much as necessary to properly clean yourself.
If you need to buy a pipe cleaner to unclog your pipes, it is best to find one that is enzyme based. This type of cleaner uses natural bacteria to transform sludge into liquid, that makes it disappear from the pipes. Cleaners containing enzymes are some of the best you can buy.
Lint Trap
Be sure that the dryer’s lint trap is clean. This can prevent a lot of problems, including a fire. Search the lint trap to see if there are any tears or holes, this helps to prevent lint from getting into the pipes, which can cause clogs and many other problems.
To reduce your plumbing repair costs, use preventative maintenance measures. Drain clogs are a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly. Clogs in drains can be caused by hair, among other things. Screens and drain covers are great ways to stop hair from going down your drains. It is much easier to remove the hair from a screen than it is to get it out of a pipe.
Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. The aerator should be removed and taken apart. Then, clean with a tiny brush swabbed in vinegar. Thoroughly rinse off the aerator, put it back together and place it back on the faucet. If the problem was caused by a dirty aerator, cleaning it will increase the pressure.
Choose your pipe cleaners with care. Some have chemicals that are harmful, and may damage your pipes. For this reason, it is essential that you choose one that is gentle on your plumbing pipes. Certain chemicals can kill bacteria that are important in your pipes, or even be poisonous.
To better the efficiency of the water heater, see what size a tank your household requires. If you are aware of how many people and appliances will be using hot water, you can determine the appropriate capacity.
Water heaters often have a pipe that reaches from the drain pipe and this must be reconnected during installation of a new unit. This could be one of the recirculation pipes, which helps your water stay warm without wasting it.
Brass Fixtures
Choosing to purchase brass for your plumbing fixtures is an excellent choice if you are going to replace them. To begin with, brass fixtures have the benefit of being long lasting and durable. In addition, the choice of brass fixtures will be much more pleasing visually than other fixture options. You will be able to find these in any type of home repair store.
You now have enough knowledge and skills to effectively fix a plumbing system. This should help you with your problems. You never need to stop learning, and the tips in this article were devised to help you with plumbing. You just might find a new favorite tip for your plumbing work.