Now is the time to learn about plumbing. You’ve thought about it often, but never took the time to do it.
If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.
If you discover a frozen water pipe, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. This gives the pressure somewhere to go, which may prevent bigger damage for your home.
Never put your hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off. Locate your garbage disposal manual, or do an Internet search for troubleshooting advice and a diagram that illustrates your model.
Have your septic tank every five years or so to keep it in prime condition. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, it will cost a lot more having to clean sewage backup or having to fix or replace a septic tank.
Make sure there is a strainer covering all drains in order to collect particles that would cause a clog if they went down the drain. Anytime there is something caught in your kitchen drain, you should clean it out. Keep the bathroom drains cleaned out too.
Do not pay anything until they finish the problem is fixed. You may need to pay some money in the beginning, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You should know the plumber did his job before they get your money.
Try to never pour grease, fat, or any oil-based liquids into your drains. They can clog your drains once they cool down. This can make your garbage disposal run slower. To keep your kitchen pipes clear, never dispose of grease down your sink drain.
Schedule one plumber to take care of all your plumbing work at the same time. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you will have time to save money for the fixes. Most plumbers have an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one visit to your home.
Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. If a problem is minor, it can be wise to put off repair until you have more than one item to fix. This also gives you time to save up for the needed repairs. It also saves you money because a lot of plumbers charge by the hour–they cannot charge for multiple hours every trip if they only make one trip out.
Overflow Holes
It is important to run your faucet with cold water whenever you run your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly. Hot water can clog your drain by allowing liquid grease to build up in it.
Check the overflow holes to make sure there’s no clog. Clear the overflow holes when you are doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
Don’t use your toilet like a trash can, and you minimize potential problems. Do not flush sanitary pads, paper towels, cotton balls, tissues, diapers or other materials, as these items do not dissolve and could cause clogs. Even keep toilet paper use to the minimum necessary.
If you are seeing water at the bottom of the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. The hose from your sink and the dishwasher needs to go up and then down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
Always remember to keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Inspect your lint trap every so often for tears or holes that could cause lint to go into your pipes, this could cause clogs or other problems you will have to deal with.
Don’t flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.
Frozen pipes are on of the most expensive plumbing problems. It can also be easily prevented. First, you need to check your outside pipe to make sure it has the proper insulation. Once the temperature starts to drop, disconnect your hoses after you have drained them out, and make sure the outside faucet is turned off. Taking proper precautions can save you lots of money on plumbing bills.
Some people think it’s alright to get away with the cheapest version at the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not very sturdy and easily break.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. A common misconception is that if you flow water into the disposal while you’re putting solid items down there, the process will be smoother, but that just isn’t true. However, some advice that it can prevent garbage sticking to your disposal, preventing damage. Read your product guide for instructions.
Clean your dryer’s lint filter. 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.
Before you have a plumber come out to your house, research their history with your local government consumer affairs department or agency. You can look at their track record, looking to see whether their license is valid and if they have any complaints lodged against them. You don’t want to hire anyone who is not in good standing and has an expired, or non-existent, license.
Knowing about basic plumbing is a valuable skill. This knowledge will prove useful and can potentially save you much money! I hope that you understood the tips provided here and will be able to implement them in your own home!
Everyone in your family should know exactly where your home’s main water shut off valve is and how to use it. Look closely for the water meter and it should be nearby. Fixtures, such as toilets and sinks, may also have individual shut-off valves. Everyone in your household should know where cut-off valves are located and how to turn them off in the event of an emergency.
