At some point, every one has questions about plumbing. It is important to have the necessary knowledge to fix plumbing issues yourself instead of calling a professional. Read this article to give you the basic knowledge to allow you to fix any problem you face and keep your plumbing system in tip-top shape!
Knowing which tools to use and how you should use them is an important skill when it comes to plumbing. Make sure to read all of your manuals, and use things such as the library and the internet to read up on do it yourself projects. Don’t just blindly rush into a project. Plan each project so that you don’t make costly mistakes.
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off. Use the Internet to find a diagram of your device, or a troubleshooter.
You need to know your plumbing tools as well as how they are used so your plumbing efforts are always positive. Read all of the equipment’s manuals and read up as much as you can on plumbing projects. Plan thoroughly before attempting a repair. Mistakes can be very expensive to fix.
Check for softness in your floor to determine flood damage. 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. You could save money if you notice these problems early.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Clean the kitchen sink strainer any time something collects in it. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out on a regular basis.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. When they cool, they’ll harden and clog your drain. They’ll also muck up your garbage disposal and cause it to be less efficient. Get rid of any fat or oils outside or in the garbage can.
Do not attempt to fix your garbage disposal by reaching in with your hands. Even while turned off, the garbage disposal is still a dangerous place for your fingers. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.
If your home uses well water and orange or pink stains become noticeable in your bathtub or in other fixtures, this occurs when the water has too much iron. A water softener will take care of the issue. This can either be done by yourself, or you can hire a professional to come and take care of.
A sink hose that is installed incorrectly will lead to water flowing into the dishwasher. A hose that is properly installed should lead uphill, then downhill, to discourage water from each area from mixing.
If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. These are cleaners that work by using natural bacteria to eat away at your clog, and turn it into a liquid that is then flushed from your pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. This is especially the case if you possess a garbage disposal; fats and oils cause blades to run less efficiently and slow. The best thing to do is to dispose of oil-based liquids away from your sinks.
Lint Trap
Keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This saves you from potential problems, including the prevention of fires. 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.
Cold weather can cause expensive plumbing repairs if your pipes freeze. Fortunately, frozen pipes are easy to prevent. Pipes in crawlspaces or outside your home should be thoroughly insulated. When cold weather sets in, turn off your outside faucets, disconnect all hoses and drain them. Doing so can prevent some nasty repair bills a professional plumber would charge you.
To make sure your garbage disposal last a long time, clean it regularly. If your garbage disposal begins to emit a bad smell, run some dish detergent and citrus rinds through the cycle to make it smell fresher.
While you may not always have your choice of plumbers, you can use the Internet to research and review plumbers in your area. If your insurance provider has set up the appointment, check the company website to see customer reviews and feedback. This allows you to have some information before they arrive.
Plumbing is not limited to water. Many skills are needed to be a plumber with expertise. One of the more common repairs that a plumber will make is the repair of water lines.
Some have no idea of plumbing in general, so they pay whatever the plumber wants. If you own your own home, you should at least learn enough about plumbing to understand how plumbing problems should be handled by a professional. This is wise to keep you from being overcharged, or having unnecessary repairs done.
Make sure all the work on your plumbing is scheduled at one time. If a problem is minor, it can be wise to put off repair until you have more than one item to fix. This also gives you time to save up for the needed 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.
A lot of people are afraid that plumbing problems will destroy their home. This can happen, but it doesn’t have to if you know one key piece of information. The key to saving your home from water damage is to know exactly where the water register is, and how to turn it off quickly.
If you start seeing wet spots or water drops on any walls, it is critical that you shut your main water supply down and get a plumber out as fast as possible. This type of leak is not something to play around with, as it can cause numerous serious problems. These types of problems can lead to the development of unsafe mold or mildew or may even cause flooding.
If you need plumbing fixtures, think seriously about brass. Brass is a very durable material and will last a long time. Brass fixtures often look much more aesthetically pleasing than other materials. You will be able to find these in any type of home repair store.
Keep the drain in your bathtub working well by pouring one cup baking soda into the drain quickly followed by about a cup of white vinegar. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. Your pipes will soon be clear of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Certain things, like chicken skin, carrots and bananas, can actually get caught in the blades and result in a clogged garbage disposal. Throw these kinds of foods away rather than risking ruining your disposal.
Learning about these problems can save a lot of headache down the road. Also, doing a little routine maintenance can help to prevent problems from coming up in the first place. Use this advice for any future plumbing needs.