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 aren’t many things more devastating to a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.
If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. Letting the water drain out will relieve pressure in the frozen pipe, which will reduce the chances of it bursting and damaging your home.
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, don’t let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, even if the house is vacant. Your plumbing can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. It may take some time in order for the pipes to thaw so that you can have running water. The worst case would be that they burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. If the water goes down to a lower level again, then you should repeat the procedure.
If your water pipe freezes, turn on the water from the faucet nearest them to let water out when they start to thaw. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which may prevent bigger damage for your home.
Fix issues with low water pressure by cleaning sediment buildup out of your faucet’s aerator. Take the aerator off, disassemble it, and brush it clean with a little vinegar. Rinse off the aerator then reassemble and reattach to the faucet. This should remove any obstructions that were in the aerator, thereby improving your water pressure.
Do not pay your plumber until the problem is fixed. You may need to make a small down payment before the job has begun, but avoid paying the total amount until it’s done. It is good to know that the plumber did everything as promised before parting with a large sum of money.
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 dislodge the grout and cause it go further down. Plastic pipes would have better results than metal. However, this will most likely require a professional to do the job.
If your toilet happens to be clogged, there is a low level of water in toilet, and your water level inside of the toilet appears low, 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.
Steer clear of drain cleaners whenever possible. Drain cleaners use abrasive chemicals that are not only harmful to you but also to your pipes. Rather, if you have a blocked drain, consider having a professional plumber come out to diagnose the cause.
Garbage Disposal
Investigate the history of a plumber before hiring them. Some plumbers are not trained to take on certain tasks, and can end up making your problem much worse. Look at reviews about plumbers or ask friends and family if they know of one.
Never use your hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Even when the garbage disposal presents significant danger. You can look online to find the diagram for your garbage disposal.
As the winter months encroach on your home, check your outdoor faucets for dripping and leaking. You will have to fix this potential problem before freezing temperatures come. Frozen water puts a lot of pressure on pipes and makes them crack, regardless of the material. Even the tiniest of cracks can release enough water to cause water damage or flooding to your home.
Use a drain strainer to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out as needed.
Rarely used valves can fuse together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and turn them every so often to keep them from sticking.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils into your drain. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fat can make the blades turn more slowly and less freely. Make sure you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
Check professional listings to find a good plumbing contractor. By doing this you can see if they have any problems with their license and heck on reviews about the quality of their work. You don’t want to hire anyone who is not in good standing and has an expired, or non-existent, license.
As it is with anything, good preparation and education are keys to avoiding problems, and this holds true with plumbing as well. Just a little information can make a big difference when it comes to preventing plumbing problems. The owner who does research and prepares for a problem before it happens will more easily repair the problem quickly.
Verify the location of your main water valve, and cut-off, for your property It is likely very close to your water meter. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures should also have cut-off valves. Make sure every member of the family knows where the values are located, and mark them so they are easy to turn off in case the need arises.
