Plumbing Woes Got You Down? Read This!

Once you own a home, you can expect problems to arise with your plumbing sooner or later. These issues tend to crop up somewhere near or in the bathroom, and also around the kitchen. At some time, everyone who owns a home will have some type of problem with the plumbing. Make note of the following advice in order to prepare yourself for future plumbing problems.

Frequently inspect the floors around toilets for softness; this can tell you whether or not the floors are damaged. Straddle your toilet by rocking it from foot to foot to see if there’s any weakening or softness on the floor below you. You can save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.

Place a strainer over the drains to collect anything that could clog and cause stoppage. Clean out the one in the kitchen whenever there’s something trapped there that shouldn’t be. A strainer in your bathtub should be checked occasionally and cleaned whenever necessary.

Noisy pipes is an easy do-it-yourself project. You must anchor all exposed pipes. Enlisting the aid of a professional may be necessary if any of the pipes are located in the floors, walls, or ceiling.

TIP! Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems.

Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. Dispose of your oils in a coffee can or other suitable container instead of your sink.

Think about what plumbing work you need, then schedule them all at once. You might want to call every time you need a tiny issue fixed with your plumbing, but if you know the system is bad, if you just call once, you can start saving for the major repair before you call. This will cut down on your plumbing bill because they can not charge you for extra trips.

Overflow Holes

You can greatly extend the life of your garbage disposal by regularly cleaning it. In order to keep it clean, you can use a mixture of dish soap, cherry pits and lemon rinds which will keep the disposal running smooth and smelling fresh.

TIP! Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup’s worth of baking soda and than a cup’s worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. Use a plug or rag to cover the drain, because there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes.

Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. Sinks use overflow holes if they start to overfill, and this isn’t usually a problem, but it can be. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.

Install low flush toilets and energy efficient shower heads and faucets to reduce your utility bills. Most of the hot water we use is used while we are showering. A single energy efficient shower head can save you $100 a year.

Remember that your toilet is not intended to be used to dispose of trash. You should never flush cotton balls, sanitary pads, tissues, paper towels, diapers, or certain other materials, because these things don’t dissolve and could clog up your toilet. As well, use just enough toilet paper to clean yourself!

If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. Running hot water down the drain while you are using the garbage disposal can cause the drain to clog from any grease that is in there liquefying.

TIP! An expensive plumbing issue to pay for repairs is when your pipes freeze. Fortunately, it is usually relatively easy to prevent your pipes from freezing.

When you replace your shower head, be sure that the replacement head is high quality. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. While it may be cheap, chances are you will have to replace it sooner, as it’s more likely to break sooner.

Lint Trap

Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. You also need to be sure the lint trap is free of holes or small openings that could allow lint to get to your pipes. This could result in other problems in your home to deal with.

Don’t rely on drain cleaners too much. Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause your pipes to corrode if you overuse them. When you have a plumbing blockage, consider calling out a professional to determine what the source of the problem is.

TIP! Even if you only have one choice, research your plumber before he arrives. Even if your insurer determines your plumber, you should go to their website and read any available consumer reviews to reinforce your faith in their abilities.

One plumbing repair that costs a lot of money is frozen pipes. However, this can typically be prevented. First, ensure that all outside pipes have sufficient insulation. Secondly, when the temperature begins to drop, you want to drain and disconnect the hoses, then make sure you turn the outside faucet off. This will help to save you money on plumbing bills.

Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues which result from sediment build up. After removing the aerator, use an old toothbrush with some vinegar on it to clean the sediment off. Then simply rinse and reattach the aerator. Once the aerator has been cleared, your water pressure should improve.

If possible, try not to use drain cleaners. Their chemicals are extremely corrosive, and they may damage your pipes if used too often. Rather, if you have a blocked drain, consider having a professional plumber come out to diagnose the cause.

If you need a plumber, check out his or her credentials first. A plumber that is not skilled in a particular task could actually aggravate the problem. Ask people you trust who they use when they have plumbing problems. Also remember to check online reviews of various plumbers.

TIP! Watch for toilet leaks. Put food coloring in your toilet tank to test the toilet for leaks.

The clean out plug can sometimes be difficult to remove, and if you are having problems, there are two approaches to fixing this problem The first way is to get a chisel and a hammer and try to jostle the fitting loose. If that fails, you must chisel a hole in the plug.

Lack of preparation can really cost you in the event of a plumbing problem. Always keep some basic tools on hand, and try to have some idea of how your plumbing works, as well as what to do in the event of an emergency. The next time something goes wrong, you’ll be ready.