Menu Close

Tips On How To Do Plumbing Right

Now is a great time to finally learn more about plumbing. You might have wanted to learn these skills before, but never made any time to gather information.

TIP! You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. These products will reduce the smell, but they will also cause problems with the rubber gaskets.

To prevent pipes from freezing, maintain a constant temperature in your home above freezing, even if the house is vacant. Your plumbing can freeze if temperatures around it is below freezing. It takes time in order for thawing to occur so you can have water again. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, which will cause an enormous mess and repair bill.

Septic Tank

TIP! If your home uses well water and orange or pink stains become noticeable in your bathtub or in other fixtures, this occurs when the water has too much iron. A water softener is the easiest way to solve hard water problems relating to rust, but you can also consult a plumber if you are unsure.

Pump your septic tank at least every five years to keep it working well. 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.

TIP! Keep the garbage disposal clean to make sure it will last as many years as your house does. By regularly "cleaning" the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can make sure that your garbage disposal is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.

Knowing what 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! Think about what plumbing work you need, then schedule them all at once. Rather than calling a plumber every time there is a minor problem, taking care of everything at once allows you to save money for additional repairs down the road.

Don't use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet. These products may well remove odors, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.

TIP! You can pour baking soda down a drain followed by some vinegar if you want to keep drains clear. This should be done once a month, and a cup each of baking soda and vinegar should be used.

If your toilet gets clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, 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 as often as necessary if the water level gets too low.

Dish Soap

TIP! Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket to keep potential problems to a minimum. You should never flush cotton balls, sanitary pads, tissues, paper towels, diapers, or certain other materials, because these things don't dissolve and could clog up your toilet.

By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, which includes a combination of lemon rinds, dish soap and even pits from a cherry, your disposal can be kept smelling fresh and running smoothly for many years to come.

TIP! Clean out your dryer's lint filter. This can prevent fires and malfunctions.

Pour equal parts baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction to occur. Wait a while, then flush with boiling water. This process should help clear your pipes of hair and soap scum.

Shower Heads

TIP! Clean the buildup of sediment from your aerator to increase your water pressure if it's low. Remove the aerator, take it apart, and clean with a small brush dipped in vinegar.

Installing efficient shower heads can save you tons of money on your energy bill. Most households use a lot of the hot water we use is in the shower. 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 grout is stuck in your plumbing, getting rid of it is likely not going to be a do it yourself project. You can break the grout up and make it go further down the line.

Frozen pipes can lead to a large plumbing repair jobs. The first thing you should do is ensure your outside pipes are well insulated. When the temperature dips, disconnect your garden hoses and make sure the outside water fixtures are turned off. This can save some serious money on plumbing bills.

TIP! Check your toilet regularly for leaks. A simple way to check this is to put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank.

Do not attempt to remove grout out of a line by yourself. You can try to break it up to send it on down the flow get better. This works better with plastic than metal ones.

TIP! If sewage backs up into a toilet in your home, there is likely a clog in the line that connects your sewer line to your main line. If you can't clear the blockage yourself, contact a professional plumber, who can insert a snake into the line to break up the blockage.

You have not choice in the matter of what plumber is scheduled sometimes, but you can find out all you can about them on the Internet. If the insurance company you have scheduled a plumber for you, see if they have a website, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.

TIP! As winter approaches, be sure that your external faucets are not dripping and leaking. If you see that, you will have to repair it before the temperature drops to freezing.

If sewage backs up into a toilet in your home, it is probably due to blockage in a branch between the sewage and main lines. If you are unable to fix the blockage, then seek out a professional to come over and clear it.

TIP! Because people are often ignorant of what plumbing involves, they're happy to pay whatever price a plumber asks of them. If you own your own home, then it behooves you to understand plumbing concepts to the degree that you can assess a professional plumber's work.

Check your faucets outdoors for drips before the first winter arrives. If you find dripping or leaking, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing. Whatever material your pipes are built from, freezing water causes pressure that can make them crack.Even a small crack will let enough water to flood your home.

TIP! Don't just use any drain cleaner. Some contain strong chemicals that will probably damage your pipes.

The advice you just read illustrates how having plumbing skills can make your life easier. You will be able to save yourself a bunch of money, plus many of your friends and family members will come to you for advice. You hopefully understand some plumbing basics now and had fun learning them.

Related Posts