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Small Plumbing Tips For A New Home Owner

TIP! When it gets very cold, your pipes may freeze. If it does, relieve the pressure in the pipe by turning on the tap so the water can be released as the pipe thaws.

It seems that plumbing problems to start right after a new house is purchased. The bathrooms and kitchen are the most frequent sites for these problems. Every homeowner will have to deal with plumbing issues. Here are some tips to help when that happens.

TIP! Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. This will keep sediment from building and causing backup into the house, and possibly causing the septic system to fail.

Do not pay your plumber until the problem is fixed. It is customary for many companies to require you to put money down before they begin the job, but do not pay in full until it is complete. You want to make sure that the plumber did his job before they get your money.

TIP! If you have a clogged toilet with a low water level and a plunger isn't doing the job, it's time to try adding a bucket of lukewarm water to the toilet from a around three feet or higher. If one attempt doesn't solve the problem, you can do it again once the water level stabilizes.

Knowing all your different tools to use and how to operate them is essential to any aspiring plumber. Before attempting any repairs, you should have a plan; otherwise, a mistake could make repairs even more costly.

TIP! Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. The combination will cause a chemical reaction, so just place a cloth or other object over the drain after pouring.

By regularly "cleaning" the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and citrus rinds, you can make sure that your garbage disposal is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.

Shower Heads

TIP! If you notice water draining into your dishwater, check your kitchen sink. The hose might not be installed properly.

Installing efficient shower heads can save you a lot of money on your energy bill. Most of the hot water in the home is used while showering. By installing shower heads that are energy-efficient, you can save up to $100 or more a year per shower head in your house.

TIP! If you have to replace any of your shower heads, make sure that the replacement is the best one you can afford. People try to save money by buying the least expensive shower head that is out there.

If you have any water in your dishwasher that should not be there, check how the kitchen sink hoses are installed. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go up and then down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.

TIP! Keep your dryer's lint trap clean. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems.

Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap is clean. This will help your dryer to work better 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.

Plumbing Repair

TIP! If you have grout stuck in the line, it's futile to try and clean it out yourself. The grout can be broken in order to send it further down the line.

The best way to avoid plumbing repair bills is to prevent problems before they happen. Clogs present one of the top reasons people have to call a major plumbing repair. Drains easily clogged by hair.It's a lot simpler to eliminate hair that is on a screen than to pull it from a pipe.

TIP! Avoid using drain cleaners as much as possible. Compounds that are ingredients in common drain cleaners are quite corrosive and can cause pipe damage if overused.

Frozen pipes can do very expensive damage. The first thing to do is ensure your outside pipes are thoroughly wrapped or insulated. When it gets cooler, disconnect your garden hoses and make sure the outside water fixtures are turned off. This will keep you money on plumbing bills.

Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues due to sediment buildup.Take out the aerator, disassemble it, and clean inside with a brush soaked in vinegar.

TIP! Be certain that your toilet does not leak. Check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank of each toilet.

Don't rely on drain cleaners constantly. Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can damage pipes if you overuse them. If you believe your drain is seriously clogged, the best course of action is to hire a professional to call by and examine it for you.

TIP! Rarely used valves can fuse together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and rotate them every so often so they don't stick.

Check your toilet regularly for any leaks. Try dropping a little food coloring into the tank. Watch the bowl, and if you see colored water within a few seconds, you will see that you are dealing with a issue that should be dealt with.

TIP! It is important to know the location of the valve that cuts off water to your house. The cut-off valve will generally be close to the water meter.

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 running water through them on a regular basis.

A pipe snake can clean out your washing machine's drain stack if it backs up.

Brass Fixtures

TIP! You should seriously consider opting for brass plumbing fixtures if you are at a point where you need to install new fixtures. The durability of brass fixtures means that they will remain in good condition for many years.

If you are upgrading your old plumbing fixtures, you should strongly consider going with brass ones. Brass fixtures last much longer and longevity. Brass fixtures often look much more aesthetically pleasing than other types of plumbing fixtures that you can purchase. You will be able to find them at any home repair store.

TIP! Whenever you work outdoors for a prolonged period of time, take a break in a place where you will not be exposed to the sun. The heat from the sun can be easy to ignore when you are focused on what you're doing, but it still can be dangerous.

There are a lot of amateurs in plumbing, so if you're a pro, think about getting an apprentice. This is a great way to hire inexpensive labor, and you may find it gratifying to pass on all the information you know to someone else.

It's easy to forget how hot it is when you are immersed in a project, but it's still dangerous.

Copper pipes are the best to expand as hot water to flow through them.

Save yourself big time by grouping your plumbing visits to one plumber visit.

Loose Tiles

TIP! When cleaning fiberglass tubs and sinks, you should only use cleaners that are non-abrasive. These include mild soaps like dish-washing liquid or laundry detergents.

Check out any loose tiles for water damage from water. Loose tiles sometimes mean a leak needs to be fixed, so press down gently to ascertain whether or not they "give." You can better respond to an issue proactively if you detect it early through the tiles.

If you procrastinate about shutting off water valves, the leak may get larger, which will be harder to shut off.

TIP!

Some homeowners are electing to install flood alarms to add to their home plumbing system. Flood alarms work on the same principle as smoke alarms are somewhat similar in the way they operate. They run on batteries and will have an alarm when they come into contact with water. Flood alarms provide a flood or leak starting.

TIP!

Buying plumbing tools will cost you some money initially, but they could save you a lot of money. There are many Internet videos that can walk you through plumbing basic repairs to plumbing. If you have the tools you need, you won't have to employ a plumber whenever you run into a minor problem.

TIP!

When the weather get very cold, pipes could freeze and result in damages. Even pipes that are inside of the house can freeze. Be sure that you are keeping either a heat lamp or some sort of small heater near the pipes.

TIP!

When plumbing issues come up, you need to be prepared. All homeowners should have some basic plumbing knowledge. The tips you learned here will assist you in dealing with whatever plumbing problems you encounter in the future.

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