Homeowners who have no significant knowledge of plumbing can have a headache trying to figure out how to fix their plumbing. Hiring a professional can take way too long and cost way too much for a problem that probably could have been solved without a lot of trouble, if you only knew how. Read on to find out how to make plumbing problems easy!
If you have pipes that sound as if they’re squeaking or hammering, it’s an easy fix. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. Pipes that are contained within the floors, walls and ceilings may need to be attended by a professional plumber.
Septic Tank
Don’t use any colored tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet. Either kind of toilet tablet might break down obnoxious smells in your toilet, but they might also break down the rubber parts, resulting in malfunction.
Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped out in five year intervals. This prevents sediment from building up in the tank and causing a backup into your home or causing the failure of the septic system itself. It may be a bit expensive to pump a septic tank, but it will be very expensive to clean up an emergency sewage problem.
It is important that you do not pay a plumber in full, until all of the work is complete and satisfactory. You might have to give them a deposit, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You should make sure the plumber did a good job before you pay in full.
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Read manuals and do some research on the internet before starting a plumbing project. Make sure you plan before you try any kind of repair, as it can be costly to fix a mistake.
Check the floors in your bathroom for any give in order to be sure that there is no damage in the floors. Sit reversed on the toilet (facing the tank) with your feet on the floor. Rock your weight onto each foot in turn and see if you can feel any weakness or “give” in the floor. It’s important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.
Never try to fix a garbage disposal by putting your hand down into it. A garbage disposal can be dangerous, even when it is not on. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.
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. You can use water softener that you buy at the store to remedy this situation, or you can have a professional do it for you.
Putting a cup of any kind of baking soda followed with a cup of white vinegar each month will keep your drain running smoothly. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. This procedure should clear the pipes of soap scum and accumulated hair.
If your home has well water and you start seeing orange or pink stains, that is from iron in your water supply. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.
If you run your garbage disposal after working in the kitchen, use a large quantity of cold water. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. If you use hot water, any grease in the disposal will turn into liquid, while causes pipe clogging.
Lint Trap
Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can prevent a lot of problems, including a fire. Regularly check your lint trap for rips or holes which could let lint escape into your pipes and cause clogging.
Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. Plug the drain afterwards or cover it with a washcloth, as the two chemicals are going to react with each other. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Applying prevention measures is key to preventing plumbing issues. Drain clogging is a very common plumbing problem. Drains are easily clogged by hair. Put a drain cover or a screen that is made to protect drains over your drain so that hair cannot get in. It is easier to take hair off a screen than to clear it from a pipe.
Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. You need to remove, disassemble, and clean the aerator with vinegar and a small brush. Then you can simply rinse off the aerator and reassemble the faucet. Clean the aerator, it might increase your water pressure.
Drain Cleaners
Swapping out old shower heads for energy-efficient ones can save you money on the energy bill. Energy efficient shower heads can save you money on your energy bill and water bill. Install energy saving faucets throughout your home and you can recapture your cost within the year.
Try not to use drain cleaners if you can. Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause your pipes to corrode if you overuse them. Especially in cases where you have a drain that clogs repeatedly, getting a professional plumber in to examine the situation may be your best option.
When looking to find a good plumbing contractor, don’t forget to check contractors against Department of Consumer Affairs records. They provide many useful services, such as the ability to file a service complaint review complaints, and confirm that they are licensed. If they are not licensed or have complaints, you should choose someone else to do the job.
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!
Good management and prevention can help you save money on plumbing. Drain clogs can be expensive and are actually a major repair, one of the most common ones, too. Hair can clog drains. You can prevent this from occurring by using a drain cover or a screen that is meant to keep the hair out of the drain and pipes. You can remove hair much easier from a screen as opposed to getting it out of the inside of a pipe.