Water is important to all life forms, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. There aren’t many ways to destroy a house faster than a major plumbing problem.
Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. It will cost some to have the septic tank pumped, but it would cost much more to have it cleaned, repaired or replaced due to sewage back up.
Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years to keep it in prime condition. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
Do not pay anything until the problem is fixed. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but you should never have to pay in full until after everything has been correctly finished. This ensures that the plumber fully completes the job before getting paid.
Knowing your tools are what and the proper way to use them will make you much better at plumbing. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets in your toilet. These tablets have chemicals that can damage rubber parts that are essential to the proper functioning of your toilet.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet. These may deodorize, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.
Never try to fix a garbage disposal by putting your hand down into it. Your garbage disposal is a dangerous device, even when turned off. Search online for a troubleshooting manual for your disposal.
If your toilet happens to be clogged, there is a low level of water in toilet, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you can sometimes fix the problem by dumping warm water into your toilet at waist level (or maybe even a little higher). Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water goes back to a lower level.
Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains. As an owner of a garbage disposal, this is important because the blades will stop working if they have fat on them. Don’t put oils down the sink.
Schedule your plumbing work at one time. You might be tempted to have a plumber come out for every little thing that happens, but saving your plumbing issues for one time can let you put that money back into repairs. Most plumbers charge an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup’s worth of baking soda and than a cup’s worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. After giving the mixture time to work, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Overflow Holes
To keep your garbage disposal working at its best, use plenty of cold water when you turn it on. Cold water keeps blades sharp and encourage a smoother disposal. Avoid using hot water, as this will liquefy grease, causing it to build up in the drain and obstruct your pipes.
Check your fixtures to ensure the overflow holes are not clogged up. Clear the overflow holes periodically when you are doing your periodic checks for other problems and things that should be addressed.
An expensive plumbing issue to pay for repairs is when your pipes freeze. However, most of the time, you can prevent this from happening. Pipes in crawlspaces or outside your home should be thoroughly insulated. When wintertime comes, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. Taking proper precautions can save you lots of money on plumbing bills.
Run lots of cold water through your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades sharp and encourage a smoother disposal.
Sometimes low pressure in water lines can be fixed just by cleaning sediment out of the aerator. Take out the aerator, pull it apart, and clean inside with a brush soaked in vinegar. After rinsing the aerator, put it back together and reinstall it. Cleaning the aerator in this manner removes obstacles clogging it, which then allows it to regulate the water pressure properly.
Installing more efficient shower heads could save you tons of money on your energy bill. Most hot water we use is used while we are showering. By installing an energy-efficient shower head that might cost a few dollars, you can save over a hundred bucks or more per every shower head in the home.
Don’t bother running water when you use your garbage disposal. It seems like water would help make the disposal function more smoothly, and many people simply assume that this is so, but it is not really the case. Some things can stick to the disposal, and cause it to become damaged beyond repair.
Some people think it’s alright to get away with the cheapest version at the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that is they’re less tough and can break.
If you require the services of a plumber, be sure to check them out prior to hiring them. Some plumbers are not trained to take on certain tasks, and can end up making your problem much worse. Always look at reviews on plumbers, or ask your family or friends if they know of one.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes.These cleaners employ helpful bacteria which process the sludge lining your pipes, which turn sludge into liquid form that can be easily removed from your pipes. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your first choice.
A sewage backup into the toilet is caused by problems often deep within the sewage line. If you are unable to fix the blockage, you will need to hire a professional to run a snake in the line to clean it.
Lint Trap
Prepare for the cold winter months by checking that your outdoor faucets are not dripping or leaking. If there are problems, you must make the needed fixes prior to the arrival of freezing temperatures. It does not matter if the pipes are made out of steel, copper or plastic, any water pressure from frozen water will cause them to crack. Even a tiny crack can leak enough water to flood your home.
Be sure that the dryer’s lint trap. This will help your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.
It is important to locate the main water supply cut-off valve in your home. There will be a water meter on top of it. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures could have their own valves that cut off. Everyone in your household should know where cut-off valves are located and how to turn them off in the event of an emergency.
Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues which result from sediment buildups. Take out the aerator, pull it apart, and brush it clean with a little vinegar.
In order to get the most efficiency from your hot water heater, it’s important to learn what size tank your household actually needs. Knowing the number of people and appliances that use hot water in your home will let you know what size hot water tank will be the best for your home.
Do not attempt to remove grout out of a line by yourself. You can try breaking it up to have it fall further which will help the line. This works best if your pipes are plastic piping than metal.
If your work is outdoors, pace yourself and don’t get overexposed to the sun. Forgetting you are out in the sun can be a problem, and you should really minimize the exposure you receive.
There are two ways to get a stubborn clean-out plug. The first approach to use is taking a hammer and chisel to attempt loosening the fitting loose. The only other method is to take the chisel right through the plug.
If you see water pooling under your water heater, turn the water off using the shut-off valves. If you don’t, that small leak could become a big leak that can be hard to shut off.
You can research a plumber online, but you can look them up and view their credentials. If the insurance company you have scheduled a plumber for you, see if they have a website, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.
If you have exposed pipes that are prone to freezing, heat them with a portable heater or a heat lamp. The water in exposed pipes could freeze, causing some nasty plumbing headaches, when the weather gets really cold. If they are coming in from the outside, indoor pipes can even freeze! You can keep pipes from freezing by using a small heater or a heat lamp.
If you have a need for a plumber, check out their reviews before hiring. A plumber that is not be experienced enough to fix your problem. Check the reviews on any plumber you are considering, or get recommendations from friends and family.
If you have a toilet issue you are trying to identify, check the flapper, since it is the birthing place of a lot of problems. Flappers can rot in time and most toilet issues stem from this. The initial thing to check out is the chain pressure, but if that’s okay, the flapper needs replacement.
If your toilet has sewage back-up, this is due to a blockage in the branch line connecting the main line and sewage line. If you can’t manage this blockage, you will need to hire a professional to run a snake in the line to clean it.
Good maintenance is the best way to prevent leaks in your sinks and faucets. You could lose a huge amount of water everyday because of a simple leak. Check pipes regularly for leaks or moisture. Regular maintenance will prevent significant wear and tear.
Check your faucets outside for dripping or leaking before winter freeze. If there is any leaking or dripping, make the repairs before the temperature plummets. Whatever the material of your pipes, very cold water pressure can make pipes crack. Even a hairline crack can cause a major flood in your home.
If you are cleaning fiberglass bathtubs and sinks, use a non-abrasive cleaner like laundry detergent or dish washing soap. Not only do these cleaners remove the risk of abrading your surfaces, they are also safe for your pipes.
Drain Cleaner
Garden hoses must be disconnected and drained as the winter season approaches. If you do not drain and disconnect them, they can cause damage to the water pipes that run through your house that they are connected to. However, it is safe for one to be hooked up in the garage, provided the temperature doesn’t dip below freezing.
Choose your drain cleaner wisely. Some drain cleaners have strong chemicals that will probably damage your pipes. Choose a drain cleaner that claims to be easy on pipes.
While you are winterizing your home, you should check to make sure your hot water heater is working correctly. This could very well save you money on your utility bills during the winter months, because it will not have to work as hard to heat the water.
If you see a pipe coming out of the drainage pipe when putting in your new water heater, take time and care to reconnect this pipe when you finish. This could be one of the recirculation pipes, which makes a significant difference in water-heater efficiency.
To ensure a tight connection, purchase sealants which were manufactured specifically for your joints, whether they be copper, galvanized steel or threaded plastic. You can easily find these products in home improvement stores.
It’s easy to forget how hot it is when you are immersed in a project, but it’s still dangerous.
Make sure to insulate any pipes in spaces that get very cold in the winter, like attics, crawl spaces, and on exterior walls. You may purchase pipe insulation to wrap around pipes at any home improvement store. Doing this not only prevents frozen pipes from bursting, but it also prevents water from losing heat as it travels through the pipes.
Education and prevention are often the keys when it comes to avoiding plumbing-related problems. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. Also, those who are educated on plumbing can fix issues easier.
