Plumbing is a large and complicated area of home improvement. Plumbing is comprised of many techniques, utilizing a variety of different tools. Working on your own plumbing is a great way to help you feel invested in any improvements to your home that you are making. That’s why this article is here, though. It will help you navigate the wonderful world of plumbing.
Don’t pay a plumber midway through the job. Some plumbers may require a deposit, but don’t fork over all the dough until the job is completed to spec. It is a good thing to know the plumber did his job as he agreed to before he get’s all of his money.
If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. The water needs to be at a low level again in order to repeat the process.
Keep a strainer over every drain in your house to prevent stray debris from clogging your pipes. The strainer in the kitchen sink should be cleaned each time you have large particles trapped in it. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. This is a certain way to either slow your drainage or clog your drain entirely. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. Dispose of your oils in a coffee can or other suitable container instead of your sink.
If you have a well at your home and notice pink or orange stains around the drains of your tub or sink, this is most likely caused by an excess of iron in your water. You will need a water softener in order to take care of this problem, which you could purchase at a local store, or hire someone to go to your home and fix it for you.
Save Money
Make sure all the work on your plumbing is scheduled at one time. While you may be tempted to call the plumber whenever you have a slight problem, scheduling it all at once gives you the opportunity to save money to pay for the repairs. You can save money by only paying a single service call fee instead of ending up with multiple hours being billed from multiple visits.
A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Wait for a little while, and then pour boiling water down the drain. This procedure will clear the hair and soap scum out of your pipes.
Check overflow holes regularly to prevent blockage. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling. It may seem unlikely as a problem now, but the necessity is there. Clear out your sink’s overflow holes every so often, while checking for any other problems or necessary repairs.
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
If you wish to use a pipe cleaner to clear out your clogged pipes, look for one that is enzyme-based. Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that digest through solid sludge, making it weak enough to be flushed out. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are enzyme cleaners.
When water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive and costly. This, however, is typically preventable. First, ensure that all outside pipes have sufficient insulation. When it gets colder, disconnect and drain the hoses and turn the outside faucet off. You can save a bunch on your plumbing bills this way.
If you have grout deposits inside your pipes, it is almost impossible for an inexperienced homeowner to fix. You can attempt to break up some of the grout which works to help the line go a bit smoother. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. However, usually you will need the services of a professional to get rid of this problem.
When you have to take out the clean out plug, but it is not coming out, you can remove it using one of two ways. The first method is by using a chisel and hammer to try to loosen the fitting. The only other method is to take the chisel and use it right through the plug.
There are a lot of different ways to keep your plumbing running smoothly. There are ideas and options for all homes in the body of knowledge surrounding plumbing, but something that proves a good idea for one home might lead to disaster in another. I hope that the tips you’ve read in this article will help you get started in taking care of your home plumbing needs!