Plumbing Guide

Everyone has plumbing questions, every now and then. Not only do people want information about fixing problems that might crop up, they also want general information about plumbing around the house. This article has tips to prepare you for plumbing issues or emergencies.

Anchoring your pipes can eliminate the hammering and squeaking noises caused by loose pipes and fitting. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. It may be necessary to hire a professional to address noisy pipes that are located in less accessible places in your home.

Frozen Pipe

If your pipes are so noisy that they sound like squeaking or hammering, you can easily solve this problem. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. It may be necessary to hire a professional to address noisy pipes that are located in less accessible places in your home.

If your water pipe has frozen, start water running in the faucet closest to the frozen pipe. This will give excess water somewhere to drain as the ice in the pipe thaws. Letting the water drain out will relieve pressure in the frozen pipe, which will reduce the chances of it bursting and damaging your home.

If your home operates on well water and you notice pink or orange stains in your bathtub and other fixtures, this is no doubt due to iron in the water. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.

If you have multiple plumbing problems, schedule all of them to be fixed together. While you may be tempted to call the plumber whenever you have a slight problem, scheduling it all at once gives you the opportunity to save money to pay for the repairs. It can also save money since most plumbers will charge you by the hour. Coming out just once will cut down on the time it takes, making your bill smaller.

Avoid the use of products for your toilet that help with odor, such as bleach tablets. While these tablets may be an easy way to clean your toilet and hide odors, they also contain chemicals that can break down the rubber fixtures in your toilet. Long-term use of these products can slow or even stop the functioning of your toilet.

To keep possible toilet problems as small as possible, you should prevent using it like it’s a trash can. Do not flush sanitary pads, paper towels, cotton balls, tissues, diapers or other materials, as these items do not dissolve and could cause clogs. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs.

If you have clogged pipes, try cleaning them with an enzyme pipe cleaner. These cleaners employ helpful bacteria which process the sludge lining your pipes, and turn it to liquid. Enzyme based cleaners are not corrosive so they won’t erode your metal pipes.

Lint Trap

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. As with many problems, early detection can save you a lot of money.

Make sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can prevent a lot of problems, including a fire. Inspect your lint trap often to see if there are any tears or holes. If there are, you can have lint getting into your pipes, and this will clog them and give you more problems that will have to be dealt with.

If you have grout in your water line, you shouldn’t try cleaning it yourself because it will be pointless. With a little effort, you can get some of the grout broken down and on its way down the line. Plastic pipes would have better results than metal. You might have to get a professional to get rid of this issue.

When running your garbage disposal, plumbers recommend using only cold water to help ease food particles down the drain. Most plumbers advise that you run water when using your garbage disposal, although many disagree. The truth is that water could make garbage stick to the disposal, which might create a problem later.

Water from wells can cause orange or rust colored stains in places like bathtubs and sinks. This comes from large amounts of iron present in the water. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.

Make sure you do educate yourself ahead of time before situations arise. If you do maintenance regularly, you can prevent problems. Follow the advice provided in this article so you can take care of the plumbing needs you have in the future.