Although water is the main source of life, in plumbing it can be the most detrimental and frustrate every homeowner. One little mistake can lead to major water damage inside your home, which can end up costing you a small fortune to fix. There are a lot of things homeowners can do to prevent serious plumbing problems and reduce the effects if they do happen.
If your pipes are making a racket, there is a simple way to quiet them down. Any exposed pipes will need to be anchored. It may be necessary to hire a professional to address noisy pipes that are located in less accessible places in your home.
A great tip to use to stop your septic tank from backing up is to make sure you have it pumped at least every five years. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals are dangerous, even when turned off. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.
Place a strainer over the drains to collect anything that could clog and cause stoppage. You should clean your strainer in your kitchen anytime you have anything in it. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.
Keep your garbage disposal clean to make sure it lasts for awhile. By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
Pour baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain every month. Cover with a rag or plug, as a chemical reaction will occur in the pipes. After about 10 minutes you can flush the pipes out with boiling water. Doing this will help rid your pipes of disgusting soap scum and blockages.
Drain Cleaners
Don’t rely on drain cleaners too much. Drain cleaners are composed of extremely corrosive chemicals and can actually damage pipes with frequent use. When you have a plumbing blockage, consider calling out a professional to determine what the source of the problem is.
Look for online reviews to check out and help choose potential plumbers. Check out your plumber’s website and read all of the reviews that are available.
Be certain that your toilet does not have a leak. To find out if your toilet is leaking the only thing you need to do is place a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. Watch the bowl part of your toilet, and if you start to see colored water, you will know you have something that has to be taken care of.
If you’ve got issues with your toilet blocking, see if the blockage exists at the branch line which connects the sewage and main lines. You can run a device through this called a snake to try to clean up the clog. Or you can also purchase some specific drain cleaner and hope that works. If not, you’ll have to call in the professionals.
Main water cut off valve is a very important piece of information you should be aware of, and you should know exactly where it is. It is likely very close to your water meter. Toilets, sinks and some other fixtures can have cut off valves of their own. 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.
It’s common for people to have bad dreams about plumbing, as they fear one little mistake could be enough to severely damage their home. This can happen, but it doesn’t have to if you know one key piece of information. The secret to sparing your home damage from it’s own water, is being aware of just where you can find the water register, and have the knowledge required to cut it off with haste.
Pick the drain cleaner you use carefully. There are some drain cleaners on the market that may damage your pipes. To prevent this, look for a product that promises not to damage your pipes. Not all chemical cleaners are good for your pipes–or for you. Some chemicals are toxic to humans. In addition, if a cleaner attacks bacteria indiscriminately, it may destroy helpful bacteria that keep the plumbing system running smoothly.
If you notice water dripping along or into your walls, it is very important for you to cut off the water supply immediately and notify a plumber. This could be a sign that there is something seriously wrong with your plumbing. Having leaks such as this could possibly lead to harmful instances of mold or mildew or possibly even flooding.
When looking for plumbing fixtures, give strong consideration to those made of brass. Brass tends to be much more durable than other materials in plumbing, so you will not need to replace the fixtures as frequently. Brass is also more attractive to the eye than typical fixtures. You can find them at any home repair store.
Being knowledgeable and prepared are the best ways to avoid plumbing issues. Any homeowner who is willing to learn more about plumbing will have more favorable outcomes from maintenance and repairs; this may also make the home much safer. If a problem does arise, research and preparation ahead of time will make the problem easier to fix.