There are a lot of problems that can arise when dealing with plumbing. Some plumbing problems require only a simple fix; however, but others take more time. No matter what your particular case may be, you should be educated so when there is an emergency, you can act quickly to get the problem fixed.
Frozen Pipes
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. Pipes will begin to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing temperatures. It may take some time in order for the pipes to thaw out so that you can have running water. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.
If you discover a pipe has frozen, have the tap closest to it turned on so the water can exit while the pipe thaws. This gives the pressure somewhere to go, preventing further damage.
Septic Tank
Have your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
Don't use any colored tablets in your toilet.These may deodorize, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
Check the floors in your bathroom for soft areas around the toilet to determine floor damage.You can save money by noticing the problem early as possible.
Use a drain strainer to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.
Schedule all the plumbing work simultaneously. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you have problems repaired all at once, you can save up money for repairs. Most plumbers charge an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one visit to your home.
It is important to always run cold water when running your garbage disposal. Cold water keeps blades sharp.
If you have any water in your dishwasher that should not be there, it's probably due to the kitchen sink's hose being improperly installed. The hose from your sink and the dishwasher has to go upward before going back down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
Don't flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, sanitary napkins, diapers or cotton balls, paper towels and cotton balls.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes.These types of cleaners will use natural bacteria so that the sludge will turn into liquid form, and turn it into a liquid that is then flushed from your pipes. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your first choice.
Do not expect to clean grout from your plumbing.You could try to break up the grout to send it down further. This works best if the pipes are plastic rather than metal.
Drain Cleaners
Try to avoid the use drain cleaners if you can. Drain cleaners contain very corrosive chemicals that can cause damage pipes with frequent use. 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.
Plumbing requires more skill then just routing water from point A to point B. Plumbers are most frequently called on to repair or clear water lines.
Because plumbing is a mysterious and hidden field to a lot of homeowners, they are willing to take any claim and any bill from a plumber at face value, and will pay any price to plumbers. If you own a home, then you must learn what you need to know what the professional will be doing. This also helps you to not ripped off.
To better the efficiency of the water heater, you will have to make a determination of your household needs in relation to the size of the hot water tank.
Save yourself big time and money by grouping your plumbing visits to one plumber visit.
Loose Tiles
Check the floor and/or wall to see if any loose tiles for water damage evidence. Loose tiles could be an early sign that leaks have caused damage, so see if there is any "give" when you push against a tile. You can manage problems quicker if you pay attention to your tiles in time.
As previously stated, a million and one things can go awry with plumbing, ranging from the smallest to most pressing and expensive problems. When you use the ideas that you've just learned, you'll find that dealing with plumbing problems is no longer a stressful ordeal.