Water is the source of life, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. There are not many things more devastating to a house faster than a major plumbing problem unfixed.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy problem to fix. Any exposed pipes will need to be anchored. For pipes that are situated inside walls, or the floor or ceiling, you should hire a professional.
To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, don’t let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, and insulate external pipes. Your plumbing can freeze if the air around them fall below 32 degrees. It could take some time in order for the pipes to thaw so that you can have running water. However, they could burst, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. This keeps the sediment from building in the tank, which can cause septic tank failure or backup into your house. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.
Septic Tank
You can easily see if there are any serious damages caused by leaks by checking if the floor is soft around toilets. Straddle your toilet and gently rock foot to foot to see if your floor feels a little weak or soft. You can save a lot if you catch these issue sooner.
Have your septic tank every five years to keep it in prime condition. While it may cost a bit to have your septic tank pumped out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.
Maintain smooth functioning of the drain in your bathtub by dropping baking soda and then vinegar down it on a monthly basis. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. After giving the mixture time to work, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. Doing this will help rid your pipes of disgusting soap scum and blockages.
If your toilet happens to be clogged, your plunger is not fixing it, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may fix the problem by dumping warm water from a bucket into your toilet from about waist level. Do this every time the water level dips back down again.
If you run your garbage disposal after working in the kitchen, use a large quantity of cold water. The cold water helps the blades that are inside stay sharp, and will keep your disposal running smoothly. Hot water liquifies grease and causes it to buildup in the drain, causing clogs in the pipes.
Check the floor for any give in order to be sure that there is no damage in the floors. You can save a lot if you notice these problems early.
An incorrectly installed hose from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher can cause unwanted water to drain into the dishwasher. The hose connecting the kitchen sink and the dishwasher has to go up and then down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and grease in your drain. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades go slower and less freely. Make certain you dispose of oils in other places other than the sink.
Enzyme based pipe cleaners should be a first choice when you are trying to unclog a pipe that is blocked or draining slowly. 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.
Schedule your plumbing work at one time. You may be tempted to call a professional plumber if you have any minor issues, but having multiple repairs done at once allows you to save up for the cost. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
A sink with poor water pressure can often be corrected by cleaning the built-up sediment out of the aerator. To clean the aerator, you first want to disassemble the faucet and remove it. After that, remove the aerator and scrub it clean with a fine brush. You can use vinegar or some other type of cleaning solution to assist in the task. After cleaning it, put the aerator back together and put it back on the faucet. This should remove any obstructions that were in the aerator, thereby improving your water pressure.
Overflow Holes
Running cold water while using your garbage disposal is recommended even though some people insist that you don’t have to. Although some say that running water will help keep the disposal running smoothly, this isn’t always the case. In contrast, it could actually cause garbage or waste to stick to the insides of the disposal and do more damage than good.
Ensure that the overflow holes have not clogged. Clear overflow holes periodically when doing your periodic checks for problems and things that need to be repaired.
You can use two different methods to remove clean out plugs. The first one is to use a hammer and chisel to attempt loosening the fitting. If the plug itself is expendable, chiseling it into pieces and extracting them can work, too.
Don’t bother running your garbage disposal. In fact, water can actually cause garbage to become lodged in awkward places, and contribute to future problems.
Ensure the toilet is free of any leaks. An easy way to check for this is to drop some food coloring in the toilet tank. Watch the bowl part of your toilet, and if you start to see colored water, you will know you have something that has to be taken care of.
Avoid Plumbing
When it gets cold out, ensure that your faucets outside aren’t dripping or leaking. If leaks are detected, it is important to repair them before the temperature drops below freezing. Frozen water puts a lot of pressure on pipes and makes them crack, regardless of the material. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood your entire home.
The key to avoid plumbing problems is a combination of technical knowledge and access to the requisite materials. A homeowner is likely to make good decisions and avoid plumbing disasters if he bothers to learn some things about the subject. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.
You should contact your local Consumer Affairs Department before you hire any plumber. These departments offer current information on licensing status and open complaints cases. You don’t want to hire anyone who is not in good standing and has an expired, or non-existent, license.
