Do you have any confidence in your personal plumbing skills are up to par? Do you want to improve your plumbing problems yourself? If you have decided to learn more about how to better maintain your home’s plumbing, this article can help you. The tips that you are about to read describe various time-tested techniques for making plumbing repairs efficiently.
To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, even if the house is vacant. It is easy for pipes to freeze whenever the mean temperature near the pipes drop below freezing. It takes time for thawing to occur so you can have water again. But, more importantly, the pipes can burst, which will cause a huge mess and big repair bill.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy do-it-yourself project. You will need to anchor all exposed pipes.
If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. This can relieve the pipe pressure that could cause bursting and further home damage.
If a water pipe freezes, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. This gives the pressure somewhere to go, and keeps it from bursting.
Have your septic tank cleaned every five years to keep it in prime condition. This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to be a backup in your home. 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.
Septic Tank
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Make sure you read all the directions and manuals, while also taking advantage of online resources and the library to help you with your projects. Prior to attempting any repairs, be certain to plan ahead in order to avoid expensive errors.
Pump out your septic tank every five years to keep it in proper working 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.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. The ones in your bathtub should also be cleaned frequently, as needed.
Check the floors in your bathroom for soft areas around the floors. You can save money if you catch these problems early.
To maintain your garbage disposal and avoid malfunction, you should regularly clean it. You can prevent annoying odors and promote smooth operation by setting up a regular cleaning routine with lemon rinds, dish soap, and even cherry pits.
Don’t put things like fat, grease or fat into your drain. This can make your garbage disposal; fats and oils cause blades to run slower. Make sure you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
Each month, treat your drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down it, and then follow that with a cup of regular white vinegar. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. After letting it sit for a few moments, clear the pipes out with a gallon of boiling water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
Dish Soap
Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. Using cold water not only preserves the sharpness of the blades, but also makes the disposal process itself smoother. Don’t use hot water while running the garbage disposal. Hot water converts the grease in your trash to liquid form. When the liquified grease goes down the drain, it clogs the pipes.
By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, dish soap and even pits from a cherry, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
If water is draining into a dishwasher, it is probably because the hose attached to the sink is not installed correctly. The hose connecting the sink the the dishwasher should be at an uphill angle and then downhill to prevent the water from mixing.
Ensure that your sink’s overflow holes don’t have any debris in them. Clear the overflow holes when doing your periodic checks for other problems and things that need to be repaired.
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. Fortunately, frozen pipes are easy to prevent. First, you need to check your outside pipe to make sure it has the proper insulation. In addition, as the weather turns colder, make it a point to drain and detach your hoses. Finally, turn off the faucet located outside. Be proactive about this and save on future repair bills.
Installing efficient shower heads can save you tons of money when it comes to your energy bill. The shower uses most of hot water. If you use energy efficient heads for your showers, you can potentially reduce your energy bill by $100 or more annually for every shower head used in your home.
Trying to clean grout caught in a line by yourself is fruitless. The grout can be broken up however it is not an easy task to do by yourself. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. Calling a plumber can be expensive but damaging your pipes will cost a lot more.
Some people think it’s alright to get the cheapest version at the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and can break.
Some people say that when you use the garbage disposal you don’t have to run the water. Water does nothing to make the garbage disposal work more efficiently, even though many people seem to think that it makes the process smoother. It can even cause what you put down the disposal to stick, causing damage to the unit.
Use enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria, and then remove it from the pipes. The best cleaner available on the market are enzyme cleaners.
Do not use a drain cleaner if you can help it. Drain cleaners are composed of extremely corrosive chemicals and can actually damage pipes with frequent use. Especially in cases where you have a drain that clogs repeatedly, getting a professional plumber in to examine the situation may be your best option.
The key towards maintaining low plumbing bills is prevention. Clogs present one of the most commonly reported problems when it comes to plumbing repair. Drains are easily get clogged by hair. It’s a lot easier to take hair that is on a screen than to pull it from a pipe.
If you have to take out the clean out plug and cannot do it, you can do it this two ways. The first approach to use is taking a hammer and chisel to see if you can get the fitting loose. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.
Now that you have the advice in hand, you can get going on taking care of your own plumbing needs. We hope that these tips can help you! If they don’t, consider other options until you’re satisfied with the results.
As the weather is becoming colder due to the coming of winter, be sure that your external faucets do not have leaks or drips. Checking them before winter is the best time, so you can make any repairs before the temperature gets down to freezing. If your pipes freeze, no matter what they are made of, water pressure may make them crack. Even tiny cracks can cause a lot of flood or water damage to your home.
