Menu Close

Tips And Tricks On Maintaining Healthy Plumbing In Your Home

TIP! If you have a frozen pipe, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

When you have to do your own plumbing jobs, you may not know which tools, what to consider, what equipment to buy and what rules to follow. These tips can help you accomplish the unthinkable and establish control over your plumbing once again!

TIP! Only pay pay the plumber once the job is done. It is customary to put down one-third to one-half of the total cost before the work is started, but do not pay in full until it is complete.

To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, don't let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, and insulate external pipes. Pipes will begin to freeze if they reach freezing temperatures. It could take some time in order for thawing to occur so that you can have running water. However, frozen pipes often burst, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.

TIP! Knowing which tools to use and how you should use them is an important skill when it comes to plumbing. Research the project you are going to attempt online, and read the manuals that come with the tools before you use them.

If you discover a frozen water pipe, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, and can keep them from bursting.

Septic Tank

TIP! Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly.

Have a professional flush your septic tank cleaned every five years to keep it working well. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, 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.

TIP! Don't use your toilet like a trash can, and you minimize potential problems. Don't flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn't dissolve, as these can clog it.

Knowing your tools and the proper way to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.

TIP! When replacing your shower head, pay attention to the quality of the replacement head. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product.

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, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.

TIP! Clean out your dryer's lint filter. This will ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires.

If your toilet happens to be clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and your water level inside of the toilet appears low, you can sometimes fix the problem by dumping warm water into your toilet at waist level (or maybe even a little higher). Do this as often as necessary if the water level gets too low.

Use strainers on all drains to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from clogging drains. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.

TIP! Fix issues with low water pressure by cleaning sediment buildup out of your faucet's aerator. First, you need to remove the aerator, and then take it apart and clean it using a small brush that has been dipped in vinegar.

Don't put things like fat, grease and other oils into the drain. This is especially the case if you possess a garbage disposal run less efficiently and slow. Make certain you dispose of all oils away from the sink.

TIP! If you have grout caught in your line, it's most likely impossible for you to clean yourself. With a little effort, you can get some of the grout broken down and on its way down the line.

If your house uses well water and you start to see orange or pink stains in your tub and other water fixtures, this occurs when the water has too much iron. You can deal with use by using a water softener, which is something you can get on your own at a local retailer, or hire someone to go to your home and fix it for you.

Chemical Reaction

TIP! Check your faucets outside for dripping or leaking before winter arrives. If there is any leaking or dripping, this needs to be fixed before the temperature falls below freezing.

Pour baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Plug up the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. Wait until the chemical reaction runs its course, and then pour boiling water down the drain. This method should be able to clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.

Ensure that the overflow holes have not clogged. Clear the overflow holes periodically when doing your periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that need to be repaired.

TIP! Always know in your mind exactly where the valve is that will cut the water off on your property. Where the water enters from the main line, should be a meter for tracking water usage.

If water that is not supposed to be there is in the dishwasher, check how the kitchen sink hoses are 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.

TIP! A lot of people find plumbing to be a very scary subject since it problems with it can cause much damage to their dwelling. By only knowing one thing, this nightmare can be avoided.

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

TIP! You should be very careful when choosing drain cleaners. There are some drain cleaners on the market that may damage your pipes.

If you are experiencing sewage backing up to your toilet, there is likely a clog in the line that connects your sewer line to your main line. If you cannot take care of this blockage, you need to contact a professional to snake the line clear.

Plumbing requires more skills than just an understanding of water.Plumbers are most frequently called upon to repair water lines.

A lot of people are intimidated by plumbing problems will destroy their home. This can be avoided if you know one thing.

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

TIP! If your home has copper pipes, when you are running hot water, they will tend to expand a little. Such expansion can produce movement and friction between the pipes and their pipe hangers, or even make the pipes pop out.

If there are signs of water leaking inside your walls, immediately turn off the water supply and phone a plumber at once. This may be an indication that there is serious plumbing problem. Many issues related to this cause mildew and mold, mold or a flooded home.

Chicken Skin

TIP! Some homeowners are installing flood alarms to add to their plumbing system. A flood alarm operates in the same manner as a smoke alarm.

Certain things like chicken skin, like chicken skin, pumpkin and banana are considered bad on the blade, can actually get caught in the blades and result in a clogged garbage disposal.

Save time and money by putting together your plumbing visits to one plumber visit.

TIP! Especially when going into the winter, it is important to keep your hot water heater in good working order so have it checked and tuned before the cold arrives. The appliance may use less energy when heating the water, thereby, possibly saving you money in the form of lower utility bills.

Check out any loose tiles for water damage. Loose tiles sometimes mean a leak needs to be fixed, so press down gently to ascertain whether or not they "give." You can manage problems quicker if you are warned enough in advance by the tiles.

TIP!

If you buy your own equipment for plumbing, invest in some tools. It is not difficult to locate videos that give you step by step instructions about basic plumbing repairs. If you have gotten professional tools, you won't have to pay a professional to do minor repairs.

TIP!

If you see any wear or tear on your pipes, then you need to buy new parts to get it back up to speed. You might be able to fix leaks and holes with foam and things like that, but these repairs don't last that long.

TIP!

As you have seen, plumbing, while appearing intimidating, is not all that complicated. There are just many basics to learn. All you need to do is decide to do some research, apply a dose of common sense and do the actual work to implement the work steps for your particular job.

Related Posts