TIP! To deal with a frozen pipe, turn on the faucet closest to the pipe. This gives the water a place to exit as the pipe defrosts.

It is common for all of us to have plumbing concerns and questions. If a problem arises, many want to fix it themselves, so it’s a good idea to learn maintenance tips. This article has tips to prepare you for plumbing issues or emergencies.

TIP! To keep your septic tank in good working order, it is advisable to have it pumped out every five years. Regular maintenance will keep sediment from backing up inside of the tank.

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. This procedure can be repeated if the water level again returns to a level that is too low.

TIP! Learning the basics is important with plumbing problems, including how to use the common plumbing tools. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues.

If your garbage disposal is not working correctly, you should not try to fix it by putting your hand in through the drain. Garbage disposals pose a serious risk, even when flipped off. You can look online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.

TIP! Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains.

Check for softness in your floor to determine flood damage. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you. It’s important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.

TIP! If you have frozen pipes that can be a very costly repair. Fortunately, it’s usually an avoidable problem.

Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. When they cool, they’ll harden and clog your drain. 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! Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues which result from sediment build up. Take apart the faucet, and clean the aerator with vinegar and a small brush.

If your home operates on well water and you notice pink or orange stains in your bathtub and other fixtures, this is no doubt due to iron in the water. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.

TIP! If you have grout deposits inside your pipes, it is almost impossible for an inexperienced homeowner to fix. With a little effort, you can get some of the grout broken down and on its way down the line.

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.

TIP! Keep from using harsh drain cleaners. The chemicals in those kinds of drain cleaners can be corrosive and might damage pipes if you keep using them.

Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. You might be tempted to contact a plumber every time you face a small problem, but if you have problems repaired all at once, you will have time to save money for the fixes. You will also save because plumbers usually charge hourly rates, so hours they can charge you are reduced if there is only one trip made.

TIP! There are two easy methods to removing a stubborn clean-out plug. The first method is by using a chisel and hammer to try to loosen the fitting.

Flush your drain with a constant stream of cold water when operating your drain mounted disposal unit. Blades will stay sharper with cold water, making disposal quicker. When you use hot water, any grease that is in the garbage will melt and be more prone to stopping up your drain.

TIP! It may be that you cannot control which plumber is sent to your house, though it is possible to read up on their qualifications. In some cases, your insurance company may select a plumber for you, but you can still research the company online.

To lower the chance that you will have issues with your toilet, do not approach it like it’s a trash can. Don’t flush paper towels, diapers, cotton balls, tissues or any other materials besides toilet paper. These items don’t dissolve and can cause clogs. Also, you want to use the least amount of toilet paper to clean yourself.

TIP! It is important to check the background of any plumbers you are looking at hiring, and get referrals if possible. Some plumbers may not be experienced or skilled enough to be able to handle some jobs, and can actually make the problem worse.

If you’ve got a shower head to replace, get a good quality replacement. In a lot of instances, folks decide they can get away with purchasing the most economical model on the shelf. Cheap shower heads can break much more easily.

TIP! It is important to know the location of the valve that cuts off water to your house. The cut-off valve will generally be close to the water meter.

If you’re removing clean out plugs and you’re unsuccessful, you can use two methods to do it successfully. The first method involves a hammer and chisel to loosen the fitting. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.

TIP! Many people have no clue what plumbing entails, so they will pay whatever price the plumber demands. If you own your home, it is very important to have at least some knowledge about plumbing so you can understand what the plumber is doing.

If you need a plumber, be certain to do some research first. Some plumbers just don’t know how to handle certain tasks which could make the problem worse. Search for reviews of plumbers, or ask friends or family members to recommend a competent plumber.

TIP! Use chemicals that are designed to clean your drain with caution. These chemicals can open your drain but they also may hurt you if you get them on your skin.

Watch for toilet leaks. A good tip for this is to take food coloring and put a few drops in your toilet tank. If you then see colored water in the toilet bowl shortly after, you know a problem exists that needs tended to.

Plumbing requires more skills than just routing water from point A to point B. Plumbers fix water lines, install water heaters and help customers choose fixtures.

TIP! Try to limit the amount of exposure to the sun you receive. Sun exposure can cause a variety of serious health conditions.

Education is essential when dealing with plumbing issues, because knowing nothing about the topic will cause people to spend big bucks on a plumber. 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. By educating yourself, you’ll equip yourself to avoid scams or unreasonably high prices when hiring plumbers.

TIP! If your pipes are copper, they may slightly expand when hot water flows through them. Your pipes may no longer fit inside pipe hangers, they may grind against it, and it could damage them.

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. There is one simple thing you need to know to save your home in case of a serious plumbing emergency. To prevent a small plumbing issue from turning into major water damage, you have to know the exact location of your water register.

TIP! Take a look at your tiles for evidence of damage from a water leak. Loose tiles sometimes mean a leak needs to be fixed, so see if there is any “give” when you push against a tile.

It’s important to learn a bit about plumbing before there is an emergency. Also, doing a little routine maintenance can help to prevent problems from coming up in the first place. Heed our tips, and you’ll have what you need to solve your plumbing problems.

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