Water may be the source of all life, though it can be the cause of frustration for anyone that is dealing with a plumbing issue. There are not many ways to destroy a house faster than to leave a major plumbing problem unfixed.
To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. Pipes will begin to freeze as soon as they reach freezing temperatures. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
If one of your water pipes freezes, have the tap closest to it turned on so the water can exit while the pipe thaws. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, preventing further damage.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean or treat your toilet. Both of these may help to eliminate odors from your toilet, but it can also damage the rubber parts of your toilet, causing it to not function probably, or even to break down completely.
Septic Tank
Check for softness in your floor to determine flood damage. Straddle your toilet and gently rock foot to foot to see if your floor feels a little weak or soft. It’s important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.
Pump your septic tank at least every five years to keep it working well. 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.
A strainer should be placed over all the drains in order to gather particles that would just get in the drain and potentially cause stoppage. Every time you have large particles in the strainer of the kitchen sink, it should be cleaned thoroughly. The ones in your bathtub should also be cleaned frequently, as needed.
Knowing what tools are what and how to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Iron will cause orange or pink stains in and on your fixtures if you have a well. This is something that needs to be taken care of by 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 your toilet happens to be clogged, your plunger is not fixing it, 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 once your water returns back to a lower level.
Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Seal off the drain with a conventional plug or a piece of fabric while the natural chemical reaction takes place. After waiting a few minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Never put your hands to try fixing your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even an un-powered garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous.You can search online to get schematics or troubleshooting advice for the disposal that you have.
You should always put plenty of cold water through your garbage disposal while it is running. Cold water keeps the blades sharpened, giving you optimal performance whenever it is used. Hot water can clog your drain by allowing liquid grease to build up in it.
Use a drain strainer to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from sliding down your drain and causing clogs. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out as needed.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. A lot of the hot water that we use is used when we shower. Water-conserving shower heads are relatively affordable, but using them can save you a great deal of money within a single year.
If your house uses well water and there are orange or pink stains in tubs or sinks, this occurs when the water has too much iron. 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.
To limit toilet problems, don’t use it as a trash can. Don’t flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn’t dissolve, as these can clog it. Use the least amount of toilet paper you can when you use the toilet, too.
Overflow Holes
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. This problem is easily avoided. Pipes in crawlspaces or outside your home should be thoroughly insulated. With the onset of colder weather, disconnect and drain any hoses and shut off outside faucets. Doing this could help save lots of cash related to plumbing repair bills.
Ensure your sink’s overflow holes are clear. Clear the overflow holes when doing your periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
If there is grout stuck in your line, it is most likely going to be a lost cause attempting to clean it all yourself. You can attempt to break up some of the grout which works to help the line go a bit smoother. 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.
Always have cold water when you are using your garbage disposal is running. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades sharp and makes the disposal run more smoothly.
If you are having trouble removing clean out plugs, there are a couple ways in which to resolve this. The first method involves a hammer and chisel to loosen the fitting. You can also chisel into the plug.
Use enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. These cleaners have natural bacteria in them, and be removed from your pipes. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are the enzyme cleaners.
As the weather is becoming colder due to the coming of winter, be sure that your external faucets do not have leaks or drips. If you find a problem, you need to move quickly to repair it, lest the faucet crack. Regardless of whether you have steel, plastic or copper pipes, the water in them expands when it freezes and will make the pipes crack. Cracked pipes can lead to extensive water damage to your home, resulting in very costly repairs.
The best way to avoid plumbing bills is prevention. Clogs present one of the most commonly reported problems when it comes to plumbing repair. Drains easily clogged by hair.It’s a lot simpler to eliminate hair out of a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.
Valves that get rarely used occasionally fuse together. You can use penetrating oil to maintain them and turn the valves every once in a while so that they do not stick.
Do not expect to clean grout from your plumbing.You can try dislodging some of the blockage which will open up to have it fall further which will help the line. This works better with plastic rather than metal pipes.
Many people don’t fully understand plumbing, so they pay whatever the plumber asks for. If you own your own home, you should at least learn enough about plumbing to understand how plumbing problems should be handled by a professional. By learning a little bit about the topic, you can rest assured that you won’t be robbed blind by a plumber.
Drain Cleaners
Use care when choosing a drain cleaner. Some have chemicals that are harmful, and may damage your pipes. Choose a drain cleaner that is well-known and whose label says it will not harm pipes. A plumbing system needs certain bacteria to stay clean, and some chemicals could be harmful to these bacteria or to you.
Don’t use drain cleaners too much. Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause your pipes to corrode if used too frequently. Instead, if you still see your drain clogged up, look at hiring a professional to come out and look at it to see what the problem is.
When installing a brand new water heater, if you see a pipe from the drainage pipe, reconnect it. This pipe, the recirculation pipe, helps keep your water heated without wasting water.
The valves will fuse together if they are hardly ever used have their way of somehow fusing together. You have to turn them often to avoid sticking, and make sure to turn them once in a while so that they do not start sticking.
Think about going with brass fixtures when you want new fixtures in the bathroom or kitchen. The durability of brass fixtures means that they will remain in good condition for many years. Brass fixtures often look much more aesthetically pleasing than other materials. These can be found in any home repair type of store.
You should always know where the primary water shut off valve is located on your property. There will be a water meter there or possibly close by. Fixtures, such as toilets and sinks, may also be equipped with individual cut-off valves. Make sure every member of the family knows where the values are located, and provide instructions nearby on which direction to turn the valve in to shut it off.
The plumbing industry contains many rookie workers, so it might be wise to take on an apprentice if you consider yourself a professional. Not only is this a good way to have cheap labor, it is also very fulfilling to pass on what you know to a younger person.
Choose a drain cleaner with care. Some drain cleaners have chemicals that can damage the pipes. Choose a brand that is well-known and whose label says it will not harm pipes.
Copper piping tends to slightly expand when hot water is run through it. When they expand and contract over a period of time, they will not fit properly in their hangers and can grind and wear against them causing damage. To stop this from happening, put tape around your pipes, and then you can put it back into the hanger.
If there are signs of water leaking inside your walls, reach for the shutoff valve and notify a plumber right away. This may be a sign that you might have a serious issue with your plumbing. Many initially small problems can lead to hazardous mold, mold or a flooded home.
If you have any loose tiles, investigate the cause. These loose tiles might indicate that there is leaking somewhere in the pipes that should be addressed. Press lightly against the area where the loose tiles are and pay attention to any softness behind or underneath. You can handle a problem more quickly if the tiles let you know in time.
When looking at new fixtures for your plumbing, brass is an option to consider. Brass models pose the advantages of durability and much more durable than other fixtures currently available. Brass is also much better looking than some of the other fixture options. You can find these in any home stores.
To stop exposed pipes from freezing in very cold weather, find a way to keep them warm. It does not take long for pipes to freeze in cold winter weather. Pipes inside the home that run from the exterior can also freeze. A small space heater or a heat lamp deployed near vulnerable pipes will ensure that you do not have any frozen pipe problems.
The initial thing to check out is the chain pressure, but if the chain is not the problem, the flapper needs replacement.
Worn out and malfunctioning plumbing should be repaired or replaced. Fixing holes with foam does not last very long. Buying new parts will not only solve the problem permanently, but also probably save you time and money.
When you are cleaning your fiberglass bathroom fixtures, be sure that you use non-abrasive cleaners such as hand dish washing liquids and laundry detergents.
Your choice of cleaners should be something non-abrasive when washing out a fiberglass sink, such as normal dish-washing liquid that you likely use in the kitchen. These cleaning agents won’t scratch or damage your fiberglass like harsher abrasive cleaners could, and they are also much gentler on your plumbing system.
Garden hoses need to be drained and disconnected when the freezing weather arrives. If you have a hook up in your garage and it does not go below freezing temperatures, then it’s perfectly safe to keep it hooked up there.
You should regularly use either tools or chemicals to clear out your pipes to prevent blockages from occurring. Toilet drains and pipes that run outside are particularly susceptible to damage caused by tree roots.
Knowing about plumbing systems and preparing for issues beforehand are the best ways to stop plumbing problems. Homeowners who become knowledgeable about plumbing are better able to avoid plumbing disasters. Also, those who are educated on plumbing can fix issues easier.
