Taking the time to learn the skills necessary to complete a few plumbing tasks can be extremely rewarding. It shows you care about maintaining a proper home and you want everything to always be in working order. Those are admirable traits. There is always a way to gain additional knowledge and improve your skills. Below are a few tips that will help you out.
Knowing your tools and how to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues. Think ahead and learn everything you can before tackling a plumbing repair project. If you make things worse rather than better, you’ll have to pay expensive plumbing fees to fix the problems.
Avoid bleach tablets, blue toilet deodorizers or the other odor removers inside your toilet. They may get rid of toilet odors, but they can damage the rubber in the toilet, which can cause it to break down completely or to not function at all.
Overflow Holes
Check to make sure that overflow holes are not clogged up. Overflow holes drain water if a sink begins to overfill, so they need to be clear at all times. Clean overflow holes as part of your annual maintenance, and any other time you are handling general plumbing repairs.
Always have cold water running when you are using your garbage disposal. When cold water hits the garbage disposal, it sharpens the blades. This keeps the disposal working properly. 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.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home. Water-conserving shower heads are relatively affordable, but using them can save you a great deal of money within a single year.
If you have unwanted water that drains in your dishwasher, it’s probably due to the kitchen sink’s hose being improperly installed. The water will not drain into the dishwasher from the sink if it is configured in an uphill and downhill position.
If you want to try a pipe cleaner because your pipes are obstructed, it is recommended you use 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.
Plumbing Repair
Prevention is the key to keeping your plumbing repair bills down. Clogs present one of the top reasons for needing a major plumbing repair. Too much hair will clog a drain. You can prevent hair from getting into your drains by simply installing a device on top of your drain such as a screen, which will trap the hair from getting into the pipes. Because the hair is at a place where you can remove it, it saves you from having to call a plumber out to your home.
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. However, this problem can be prevented. The first concern is making sure that all water lines that run outside of your house are fully and sufficiently insulated. And when the temperatures start dropping, you will want to drain your hoses and disconnect them, and then turn off all of the outside faucets. A bit of prevention prevents a costly plumbing bill.
Over time, sediment buildup may lead to problems with low water pressure. Often, this problem can be addressed by thoroughly cleaning out the aerator. To clean the aerator, you first want to disassemble the faucet and remove it. After that, remove the aerator and scrub it clean with a fine brush. You can use vinegar or some other type of cleaning solution to assist in the task. Rinse it and put it back on the faucet. This should raise the water pressure nicely because anything that was inside of the aerator will be removed.
Stay away from drain cleaners if possible. The chemicals in these type of cleaners are corrosive, and they could damage your pipes by using them too much. Rather, if you have a blocked drain, consider having a professional plumber come out to diagnose the cause.
A sewage backup into the toilet is caused by problems often deep within the sewage line. If you cannot clear the blockage, you will have to contact a professional, who will run a snake along the line to clear it.
When it gets cold out, ensure that your faucets outside aren’t dripping or leaking. If there are drips or leaks, then the repairs need to be make prior to any freezing temperatures. Regardless of the material of your particular pipes, whether it be copper, steel or plastic, water pressure from freezing water will cause pipes to crack. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood your entire home.
Infrequently used valves can stiffen with age and become inoperable. Apply penetrating oil on a regular basis, and turn it so as to stop it from seizing.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is a great place to check if you need a plumbing contractor. Make sure that every plumber you’re considering has an up to date license, and investigate whether they have outstanding negative complaints. If they are not licensed or have complaints, you should choose someone else to do the job.
You can save money if you have the skills, tools, and ability to fix small plumbing problems yourself. If so, that’s great. From here, you need experience to get better. There is no limit to the amount of knowledge and experience you can have with plumbing, as it’s an area where learning is always part of the job. Ways that work best for you will allow you to easily do jobs you previously had little clue how to fix.