In dealing with plumbing issues, be mindful that a number of complications can arise. There are some plumbing things that can seem hard while others can seem easier to deal with. It does not matter what your circumstances are, it remains important that you know some plumbing basics so you can deal with issues as they arise.
If you have pipes that make hammering and squeaking noises, you have one easy repair. You will need to anchor any exposed pipes. You may need the assistance of a professional in the case that the pipes are contained within a floor or ceiling.
If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. If ambient temperature surrounding pipes goes below freezing, pipes can freeze as well. If they do freeze, you are looking at some time before they can thaw out, thus you will have to wait for running water. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
Septic Tank
Have your septic tank cleaned every five years to keep it in prime condition. 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.
Check the floor for soft areas around the toilet to determine floor damage. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you. You can save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.
Do not put any oil, fat, or greasy foods or products in your sink. Whenever they cool, they tend to harden and make clogs inside your drains. As an owner of a garbage disposal, this is important because the blades will stop working if they have fat on them. Make sure you dispose of oils away from the sink.
Iron will cause orange or pink stains in and on your fixtures if you have a well. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.
Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling. It may seem unlikely as a problem now, but the necessity is there. Make cleaning debris from the overflow holes part of your regular routine of maintaining your plumbing and checking it for problems and required repairs.
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. Your hose must run in a hill pattern to avoid water mixing. Think of the St. Louis Arch — start from your sink, go uphill with the hose, and then down before connecting to the dishwasher. This way, only pressurized water can travel through the hose. Leakage won’t be an issue.
Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. Under no circumstances flush cotton balls or swabs, paper towels, diapers, sanitary pads or other materials that will not dissolve. These items can cause major clogs. As well, use just enough toilet paper to clean yourself!
When you replace your shower head, be sure that the replacement head is high quality. Some people think they can get away with the cheapest version at the store. Cheap shower heads can break much more easily.
Do not attempt to remove grout from your plumbing. You can try dislodging some of the blockage which will open up the line. This works much better if your home has pipes made of plastic. You may eventually have to get a professional to solve this problem.
Make sure your toilet is not leaking. To find out if your toilet is leaking the only thing you need to do is place a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. Keep your eye on the toilet bowl; if you notice colored water, you can safely assume that you are dealing with a leak.
If you have clogged pipes and thinking about using a pipe cleaner, one that is enzyme based is highly recommended. These cleaners turn the sludge into a liquid using natural bacteria, and then the liquid flows out of the pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.
If there is sewage backing up in your toilet, it is probably due to blockage in a branch between the sewage and main lines. If you have tried and cannot remove the blockage, you will need a plumber to come to your home and run the plumbing snake down into the toilet to clear the blockage.
Those valves will rarely get fully used but can fuse together. Be sure to give them a shot of penetrating oil and a turn from time-to-time to make sure they don’t freeze up.
As you can see, plumbing can present a whole host of small and large problems. The information in this article should help to prepare you to face those problems with knowledge and confidence.
If you take care of your plumbing, you will have lower plumbing bills. Clogs are the most commonly reported problems when it comes to plumbing issues. Hair can clog drains. Stop the clog by covering your drains with screens to keep hair from going into the pipes. It’s a lot simpler to eliminate hair that is on a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.