When you are working on your plumbing, there is a lot that can go wrong. Some things might be an easy fix for you, but others can be a little more challenging. Knowing more about plumbing will make it easier to fix any problem quickly with minimal effort.
It’s easy to fix noisy pipes which squeak or sound like hammering. Anchor any easily-accessible loose pipes. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
It is a advisable to have a septic tank pumped every five years to keep it in peak 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. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into 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. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.
You can drastically reduce your utility bills with the installation of shower heads designed for better efficiency. Most of your water bills comes from the water you use to shower. By installing an energy-efficient shower head that might cost a few dollars, you could save at least $100 a year per person who showers in your house.
Kitchen Sink
Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. This is especially the case if you possess a garbage disposal; fats and oils cause blades to run less efficiently and slow. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. The hose leading from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher must lead uphill and then back downhill in order to prevent mixing of water from both devices.
Don’t use your toilet like a trash can, and you minimize potential 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. Even toilet tissue should be used conservatively. Use enough to clean yourself, of course, but if you need to use wads of tissue you should flush several times in the process instead of waiting till the end.
Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Choosing the cheapest shower head in the store can end up costing you more in the long run. Cheap shower heads are not well-made and are very likely to break. Buying a cheap shower head will end up costing you more money over the long-term.
Maintain smooth functioning of the drain in your bathtub by dropping baking soda and then vinegar down it on a monthly basis. The combination will cause a chemical reaction, so just place a cloth or other object over the drain after pouring. After waiting a few minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are enzyme cleaners.
Lint Trap
Be sure to regularly clean out the lint trap that is in your dryer. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Regularly check your dryer’s lint trap to see if it has any tears or holes that could potentially damage your dryer, and clog up your plumbing.
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. You must have the hose going uphill and then down to get rid of the water in the dishwater.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. Water will not make your garbage disposal run smoothly. The moisture can actually bond the trash to your disposal, harming things further.
Make sure your toilet is not leaking. Put food coloring into your toilet water in the tank to test for leaks. If you then see the colors show up in the bowl right away, you can be assured that there is an issue that should be addressed.
If sewage is backed up in your toilet, it’s most likely the result of a sever blockage of the branch line that connects the sewage line and main line. Get help from a professional. A plumber will run a snake in the line to clear it.
Frozen pipes can cost you a significant amount to repair. They can generally be prevented, though. Insulate the pipes that run outside with proper material. When cold weather sets in, turn off your outside faucets, disconnect all hoses and drain them. You can avoid future plumbing repairs by doing this, and therefore, saving you a lot of money.
Those valves that rarely get used have a way of fusing together. Use penetrating oil to maintain them and run water through them once in a while.
You should always know where the main water cut-off valve is located on your property. You should see a water meter located on it or close by. Many fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, will have their own valves to shut off the water to them. Make sure all the members of your family know where the cut-off valves are. In addition, add markings to show how they should be turned off.
There are many skills that are required to be considered a great plumber. Plumbers frequently have to repair water lines.
Try not to use drain cleaners if you can. Drain cleaners contain caustic and damaging chemicals which can destroy your pipes if used too often. If you do have a clogged drain, it is better to hire a professional to see what is causing it.
After reading this article, you know some of the different plumbing problems that you can encounter whether large or small. Use the tips given in this article to reduce the stress and danger of your plumbing repairs.