Water is the source of life, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. There aren’t many ways to destroy a house faster than a major plumbing problem.
To maintain a clean, well-functioning septic tank, it is recommended that you clean it out once every five years. This keeps the tank from developing a buildup of sediment, thereby preventing the septic system from backing up or failing altogether as a result. Pumping a septic tank might cost a lot of money, but it will cost your more money to clean any back up in sewage you may have had, and replacing your septic tank costs even more!!
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. Your pipes can freeze if the air around it is below 32 degrees. It takes time to thaw so that you can have water again. However, your pipes can explode, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.
Never try to fix a garbage disposal by putting your hand down into it. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even if they are powered off. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.
Don’t use any colored tablets in your toilet.These products may well remove odors, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. This is especially true if you have a garbage disposal, as the fat will cause the blades to run slower and less efficiently. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
Use filters on all drains to prevent debris from clogging drains. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.
Think about what plumbing work you need, then schedule them all at once. It might be tempting to hire a plumber for every little problem, but if you can save it up for one big fix, then you have time to set money aside for these 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.
Don’t put oil, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades turn more slowly and less freely. Make sure you dispose of oils in other places other than the sink.
You can pour baking soda down a drain followed by some vinegar if you want to keep drains clear. This should be done once a month, and a cup each of baking soda and vinegar should be used. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, you have too much iron in your water. This is fixed by using water softener, which you can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
If you notice water draining into your dishwater, check your kitchen sink. The hose might not be installed properly. The hose leading from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher must lead uphill and then back downhill in order to prevent mixing of water from both devices.
Schedule your plumbing work at one time. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but saving your plumbing issues for one time can let you put that money back into repairs. Most plumbers have an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
Make sure a new shower head is of high quality. Sometimes, people will choose a shower head because it is the least expensive. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and easily break.
Education and prevention are often the keys when it comes to avoiding plumbing-related problems. You will make better decisions if you know what can damage your plumbing system. A homeowner who knows something about plumbing can often fix issues before they become major crises.
Do not attempt to remove grout from your plumbing. You could dislodge the grout and cause it go further down. This works better when you have plastic pipes as opposed to metal ones. However, you are likely going to have to call in a professional plumber to take care of this problem.
