Do you know much about the plumbing in your home? Is there something you can do to improve it? What is your skill set like? If you are somewhat vague on the answers to these questions, read on for some useful and insightful tips that can help.
If your pipes make squeaking and hammering noises, it may be very simple to fix. You simply have to securely fasten any pipes that are exposed. You may need the assistance of a professional in the case that the pipes are contained within a floor or ceiling.
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, maintain a constant temperature in your home above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. If the temperature surrounding the pipes is anywhere below freezing, this can cause the pipes to freeze. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. But, more importantly, the pipes can burst, which will cause a huge mess and big repair bill.
To prevent pipes in your house from freezing, do not let the temperature in the house dip below freezing. Also, any pipes exposed to the cold should be insulated. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. It may take time to thaw so that you can have running water. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
To deal with a frozen pipe, turn on the faucet closest to the pipe. This gives the water a place to exit as the pipe defrosts. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.
Septic Tank
Your septic tank should be pumped out at least once every five years if you want it to stay in optimum working order. Regular maintenance will keep sediment from backing up inside of the tank. Sediment can not only cause the sewage in the tank to back up into your house, but it can cause the tank to fail completely. 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 any water pipe that you have freezes, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. This assists you in relieving pressure within the pipe, and could stop any bursting from occurring, which can prevent additional damage to your home.
Keep grease, fat and oil out of your kitchen drain. Oils will eventually harden and clog up your drain. If the sink has a garbage disposal, it will also make the blades less efficient. Dispose of oils and fatty liquids in the trash.
If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, then you can be sure that the culprit is iron in your water. 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.
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. Cover the drain with an old rag, because there will be a chemical reaction taking place inside the pipes. Let that sit for a while, and then run boiling hot water down it. Doing this will help rid your pipes of disgusting soap scum and blockages.
Your septic tank should be pumped out at least once every five years if you want it to stay in optimum working order. Doing so will help to avoid septic tank problems by ensuring that the tank does not become clogged with sediment. It will cost some to have the septic tank pumped, but it would cost much more to have it cleaned, repaired or replaced due to sewage back up.
Don’t treat your toilet like a garbage can if you want to avoid a lot of potential plumbing problems. 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. You will also want to use the least amount of toilet paper as required.
When changing your shower head, replace it with one of good quality. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.
Applying prevention measures is key to preventing plumbing issues. Clogged drains are one of the more common issues when it comes to plumbing problems. Hair can cause clogs, among many other things. Use a drain cover to keep hair and other elements from going down your pipes. It’s more convenient to remove hair before it has a chance to get down the drain and into the pipes.
Never put your hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even while turned off, the garbage disposal is still a dangerous place for your fingers. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
If you have frozen pipes that can be a very costly repair. Thankfully, you can prevent your pipes from freezing. The first thing you should do is ensure your outside pipes are thoroughly wrapped or insulated. When wintertime comes, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. You can save money on plumbing bills by doing this.
If grout is stuck in your plumbing, getting rid of it is likely not going to be a do it yourself project. Do your best to break it up and flush it down. This works better with plastic than metal pipes. However, ultimately it usually requires a professional to rid you of this problem.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. Running water can help clear debris and keep the disposal’s temperature down, but it can also cause sticky materials to clog the disposal.
To ensure garbage disposal lasts long in your home, be sure you keep it cleaned 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.
Do you now feel more knowledgeable where plumbing is concerned? Are you aware of the specific piping in your house? What is your level of ability? Do you think you can use the information that will fix your system? Are you comfortable with your knowledge on how to use the required equipment? With any luck, the tips above should have created better answers.