Plumbing difficulties can be a huge problem for homeowners. Hiring a professional plumber not only cause you to wait, but they are also very expensive. Continue on for information to help simply your plumbing problems!
If you discover a pipe has frozen, open a tap on the line to allow the thawing ice to drain. This can prevent damage to your house because it lets the pressure that is in the pipe out, and keeps it from bursting.
Septic Tank
If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
To maintain a clean, well-functioning septic tank, it is recommended that you clean it out once every five years. Having it cleaned out prevents the sediment from accumulating in the septic tank and creating a sewage backup in your house or triggering the meltdown of the entire septic system. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, cleaning up sewage backup in your home will ultimately cost much more.
Avoid using any tablets that are meant to reduce odor in and around your toilet. While they are good at removing odors, they have a detrimental effect on the parts of the toilet that are rubber. This can make it not function correctly and may even break it.
Never reach into a garbage disposal that you think isn’t working. A garbage disposal can be dangerous, even when it is not on. Use a guide or the Internet to locate a blueprint of your disposal, or a troubleshooting manual.
To maintain a clean, well-functioning septic tank, it is recommended that you clean it out once every five years. This stop sedimentary particles from accumulating in the tank, and in the worst cases, flooding your home or making the entire system to fail. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Frequently inspect the floors around toilets for softness; this can tell you whether or not the floors are damaged. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth. When you have a problem like this to deal with, the earlier you detect it, the less expensive it will be to take care of.
Place a strainer on top of every drain so that you collect all debris that has the ability to clog the drain. Every time you have large particles in the strainer of the kitchen sink, it should be cleaned thoroughly. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.
Keep grease, fat and oil out of your kitchen drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
Don’t pay a plumber midway through the job. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but you should never have to pay in full until after everything has been correctly finished. You want to make sure that the plumber completed everything that they said they would before they get your money.
Overflow Holes
Be sure that the overflow holes don’t clog up. Sinks use overflow holes if they start to overfill, and this isn’t usually a problem, but it can be. When checking for potential problems and repairs, you should also remove obstructions from the overflow holes.
If you have to replace any of your shower heads, make sure that the replacement is the best one you can afford. Choosing the cheapest shower head in the store can end up costing you more in the long run. However, cheap parts don’t work as well and break down more quickly.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. Kitchen filters should be changed often, while bathtub filters can be changed as needed.
If you want to try a pipe cleaner because your pipes are obstructed, it is recommended you use a cleaner that is enzyme based. These are cleaners that work by using natural bacteria to eat away at your clog, and turn it into a liquid that is then flushed from your pipes. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are enzyme cleaners.
Correct low water pressure problems caused by sediment buildup by cleaning the aerator. Disassemble the fixture to remove the aerator, and then scrub it with vinegar and a small brush. Rinse the aerator with water, put it back together and then attach it back onto the faucet. This technique causes the water pressure to rise via the removing of any blockage within the aerator.
Everyone in your family should know exactly where your home’s main water shut off valve is and how to use it. The water meter for your property should be close to it. Many fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, will have their own valves to shut off the water to them. Make sure the entire family is familiar with these valves, and mark the shut-off position for ease of use.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. This is especially true if you have a garbage disposal, as the fat will cause the blades to run slower and less efficiently. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
A lot of people are afraid that plumbing problems will destroy their home. There is one simple thing you need to know to save your home in case of a serious plumbing emergency. To prevent a small plumbing issue from turning into major water damage, you have to know the exact location of your water register.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
