TIP! If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. This can prevent damage to your house because it lets the pressure that is in the pipe out, and keeps it from bursting.

When it comes to plumbing, many things can go wrong. Sometimes a fix is easy, but sometimes it is not. No matter what your particular case may be, it is important that you are educated on plumbing, so that the problem can be fixed in a timely manner.

TIP! Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. A plumber might ask you for part of the money before starting the job but you should never pay more than half.

Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it working well. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. There is a cost to having a company pump out your septic tank. But, a serious backup can cost a lot more if it mean replacing the tank.

TIP! Knowing which tools to use and how you should use them is an important skill when it comes to plumbing. Make sure you read all the directions and manuals, while also taking advantage of online resources and the library to help you with your projects.

If you encounter a problem with your garbage disposal, resist the urge to reach in and fix it with your bare hands. Even when they are turned off, disposals can be very dangerous. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.

TIP! If your toilet happens to be clogged, and the plunger is not working, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, but be sure to pour it from a height that is waist level or above so you do not flood the bathroom. You could repeat this process again if the water in the toilet bowl gets low.

A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.

TIP! Never put your hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Garbage disposals always pose a possible threat, even when powered off or non-working all together.

Never put fat, grease, or oils into your drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.

Shower Heads

TIP! Ensure that your sink’s overflow holes are clear. Overflow holes catch the excess water from an overflowing sink.

You can drastically reduce your utility bills with the installation of shower heads designed for better efficiency. Showers and baths are responsible for the bulk of your hot water usage. By installing energy-efficient shower heads for a few extra dollars, you can save up to $100 or more a year per shower head in your house.

TIP! Always have cold water running when you are using your garbage disposal. Cold water helps the blades stay sharp and keeps the disposal running smoothly.

If water that is not supposed to be there is in the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. The hose connecting the sink the the dishwasher should be at an uphill angle and then downhill to prevent the water from mixing.

TIP! Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems.

If you have frozen pipes that can be a very costly repair. However, this can typically be prevented. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. Also, when it starts to get colder, drain and disconnect your hoses and turn off the outside faucet. You can save a bunch on your plumbing bills this way.

Drain Cleaners

TIP! The dryer has a lint trap that must be kept clean. This will help your dryer to work better and may also prevent fires.

Don’t rely on drain cleaners too much. Drain cleaners use abrasive chemicals that are not only harmful to you but also to your pipes. Instead, if you find your drain is blocked up, look at hiring a professional to come out and look at it to see what the problem is.

TIP! No matter what plumber you use, you should know a little about him before he comes to the door. Even if your insurance company assigns a plumber to you, you can get online and learn his name and the quality of his work.

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.

TIP! If you are looking into hiring a plumber, make certain you do your research first before you hire one. Certain plumbers may not have the necessary skill or experience to deal with more advanced plumbing jobs, and could make matters worse.

Always check your toilet and make certain it isn’t leaking. A good tip for this is to take food coloring and put a few drops in your toilet tank. Watch your toilet bowl closely, and if you notice colored water in a manner of seconds, you definitely have a leak that will need to be fixed.

TIP! Valves that get rarely used occasionally fuse together. You have to turn them often to avoid sticking, and keep penetrating them with oil.

If you start to have sewage backup inside your toilet, it is because of blockage that is inside the branch line which connects the sewage line and the main line. If you can’t clear the line, you’ll need professional help to run a snake and break up the clog.

TIP! Some have no idea of plumbing in general, so they pay whatever the plumber wants. If you own your own home, you should at least learn enough about plumbing to understand how plumbing problems should be handled by a professional.

As the weather turns frosty, make sure faucets outside are not dripping or leaking. If you see that, you will have to repair it before the temperature drops to freezing. No matter what material your pipes are constructed from, the additional pressure that results from freezing water will crack them. The tiniest cracks might create water damage or cause water to flood into your house.

TIP! Plumbing nightmares are not uncommon, since many people believe that broken plumbing will demolish their house. By only knowing one thing, this nightmare can be avoided.

Consult your Department of Consumer Affair if you’re looking to hire a plumbing contractor. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. If they don’t generate appealing results, you can simply move forward and find someone who does.

TIP! To be efficient about the water heater, you have to figure out what size tank is required by your household. In order to determine what capacity hot water tank you need, take into consideration how many people and appliances in your home have a demand for hot water.

Know where the location of the main water-valve is on your property. You’ll find a water meter right on it or near by. Look for additional cut-off valves for you indoor equipment, such as toilets, sinks or any other water source. Everyone in your household should know where cut-off valves are located and how to turn them off in the event of an emergency.

TIP! When you replace a water heater, be sure to reconnect the secondary pipe that sticks out from the drain pipe, if one is there. These pipes help to recirculate the water in the tank, keeping it hot while using less water and energy.

Many people don’t fully understand plumbing, so they pay whatever the plumber asks for. If you are a homeowner, then you should be sure to educate yourself enough to at least understand what a professional is doing. If you know what you’re paying for, you’ll be less likely to get ripped off.

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.

Carefully choose drain cleaners. There are some that contain strong chemicals that can actually cause damage to your pipes. Make certain the one you buy is a brand known for pipe safety. A plumbing system needs certain bacteria to stay clean, and some chemicals could be harmful to these bacteria or to you.

TIP! Rest for a while after doing work outdoors for a long time. It’s easy to forget the sun’s heat when you’re involved in working, but it’s still dangerous.

For homeowners interested in energy-conserving appliances, you might consider the tankless water heater model. Tank-less hot water heaters work differently that conventional heaters. Rather than keeping a large amount of water heated in case you may need it, they only heat water when it is triggered by you needing hot water. This reduces the amount of energy they use, since water is only heated when it is called for.

TIP! Check out any loose tiles to see if they are indicative of water damage. As the tile gets wet from a water leak, the tiles may start to come loose, and you need to check and see if that’s the case.

As you know, plumbing can have lots of different things go wrong with it. By using the tips that have been provided to you in the above article, you will find that it does not have to be stressful when dealing with these problems.

Shower Heads

Drain Cleaners

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