Water is important to all life forms, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. There are not many things more devastating to a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.
If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. If the ambient temperature around the pipes is below freezing, the pipes can freeze. If they do freeze, you are looking at some time before they can thaw out, thus you will have to wait for running water. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy do-it-yourself project. You will need to anchor any exposed pipe.
You never want to pay for a job until it is complete, and this goes for a plumber as well. There might be a down payment required, but you do not give him the total cost before he is finished. You should know the plumber did his job before you pay him.
If your pipes freeze, switch on the nearest faucet tap to that pipe so that water can exit when the pipe thaws. This can prevent damage to your house because it lets the pressure that is in the pipe out, which can prevent further damage to your home.
If your toilet gets clogged, there is a low level of water in toilet, and the plunger is not working, you may fix the problem by dumping warm water from a bucket into your toilet from about waist level. Do this as often as necessary if the water level dips back down again.
If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, you can sometimes fix the problem by dumping warm water into your toilet at waist level (or maybe even a little higher). Do this every time the water level dips back down again.
You can check for damage to the floors around the toilets by checking for soft areas. Sit in a reversed position, putting one foot on each side of the toilet and shift your weight from side to side to check if the floor feels slightly unstable. As with many problems, early detection can save you a lot of money.
Don’t put things like fat, grease or fat down the drain. This is especially the case if you possess a garbage disposal run less efficiently and slow. Make sure you dispose of oils in other places other than the sink.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. 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. Don’t put oils down the sink.
Schedule one plumber to take care of all your plumbing work at the same time. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but kicking the can on some issues until you have a list means you can save a few bucks. Most plumbers charge an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one visit to your home.
Schedule all the plumbing work at one time. By doing so, you can save up enough money to pay for the repairs. 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.
Energy Bill
Clean out your dryer’s lint filter. By doing this simple task, you can circumvent a great deal of trouble. including prevention of fires. Regularly check your lint trap for rips or holes which could let lint escape into your pipes and cause clogging.
Installing more efficient shower heads can save you a lot of money on your energy bill. Most hot water we use is used while we are showering. If you invest in purchasing and installing shower heads that are energy-efficient, you can potentially reduce your energy bill by $100 or more annually for every shower head used in your home.
Correct low water pressure problems caused by sediment buildup by cleaning the aerator. Remove the aerator, take it apart, and clean with a small brush dipped in vinegar. Wash it off, put it back together and connect the aerator to the faucet. By removing any grit, grime and debris from the aerator, the water pressure should significantly increase.
If water is draining into a dishwasher, most likely this is due to a faulty setup of the hose that leads from the kitchen sink. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
If there’s grout stuck inside your line, it’s most likely will be a losing cause if you try to fix it all by yourself. You could try to break up all the grout to send it down further. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. Usually, however, you will need to hire a professional for this issue.
Don’t flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, sanitary napkins, tissues, because these items don’t break down and may cause clogging issues.
You can use two different methods to remove clean out plugs. One way is to make the fitting looser with a hammer and chisel. Your second option is to simply chisel through the plug itself.
Enzyme Based
If you need to hire a plumber, make sure you check them out before you give them the job. Some plumbers don’t have the necessary skills or do not have the experience to take on certain jobs, and that could make your situation much worse. Make sure to look at any online reviews, or ask for a referral from a friend or family member.
Use enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. Enzyme based cleaners use “good” bacteria to transform the clog into a liquid, making it weak enough to be flushed out. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your metal pipes.
Inspect your toilet regularly to ensure that it isn’t leaking. A great way to do to this is to drop a couple of food coloring drops into your toilet tank. Watch the bowl, and if you see colored water within a few seconds, you know that you have a problem that needs to be handled soon.
The keys to avoiding plumbing problems is great preparation and education. A homeowner is likely to make good decisions and avoid plumbing disasters if he bothers to learn some things about the subject. Keep the above tips in mind to be better prepared to quickly fix any plumbing problems that do arise.
Government agencies can provide information about plumbing contractors. You can look at their track record, looking to see whether their license is valid and if they have any complaints lodged against them. Do not hire a plumber with a license that is not in good standing.
