In the world of plumbing, there are a lot of issues that may crop up. Sometimes a fix is easy, but sometimes it is not. Whatever the case might be, it is crucial that you have some education about plumbing so a problem can be repaired in a timely fashion.
If you discover a pipe has frozen, open a tap on the line to allow the thawing ice to drain. This helps decrease any pressure in order to prevent burst pipes. A burst pipe can create damage that is expensive to repair.
Learning the basics is important with plumbing problems, including how to use the common plumbing tools. Use manuals and online sites to get informed before doing a plumbing project yourself. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, because it can be expensive to fix mistakes.
You can unclog a toilet by pouring warm water in the bowl from waist level. Do this as often as necessary if the water level dips back down again.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. Grease is of particular concern when there is a disposal unit installed in your drain. It can cause the unit to lose efficiency. Keep a container in your kitchen that is used specifically for discarded grease.
If you have a well at your home and notice pink or orange stains around the drains of your tub or sink, this is most likely caused by an excess of iron in your water. You will need a water softener in order to take care of this problem, which you could purchase at a local store, or hire someone to go to your home and fix it for you.
Garbage Disposal
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. You should also clean your bathtub strainer any time it is slow to drain.
To make sure your garbage disposal last a long time, clean it regularly. Keep your garbage disposal fresh and running by using dish soap, cherry pits and lemon rinds regularly.
Each month, treat your drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down it, and then follow that with a cup of regular white vinegar. Cover the drain with a plug or rag as you wait for the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda to happen in your pipes. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
Ensure that the overflow holes in your sinks are not clogged. Overflow holes are one of those things which you forget about until you need them. Clear out your sink’s overflow holes every so often, while checking for any other problems or necessary repairs.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the 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. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.
It is very important to to use lots of cold water when running your garbage disposal. Using cold water not only preserves the sharpness of the blades, but also makes the disposal process itself smoother. If you use hot water instead of cold, it will turn any fat into liquid and cause the fat to clog your pipes when it later cools and solidifies.
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.
Lint Trap
To keep your garbage disposal lasting for a long time, make sure you clean it on a daily basis. You can prevent annoying odors and promote smooth operation by setting up a regular cleaning routine with lemon rinds, dish soap, and even cherry pits.
Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap of any debris. This can prevent fires and malfunctions. Search the lint trap to see if there are any tears or holes, this helps to prevent lint from getting into the pipes, which can cause clogs and many other problems.
Frozen pipes can cause you to incur expensive plumbing repair bills. Fortunately, you can generally prevent your pipes from freezing. Start by insulating the outside pipes fully. When cold weather sets in, turn off your outside faucets, disconnect all hoses and drain them. You can save a bunch on your plumbing bills this way.
Be certain that your toilet does not have a leak. To find out if your toilet is leaking the only thing you need to do is place a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. Watch the bowl part of your toilet, and if you start to see colored water, you will know you have something that has to be taken care of.
Each month, treat your drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down it, and then follow that with a cup of regular 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. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
If sewage backs up into a toilet in your home, there is likely a clog in the line that connects your sewer line to your main line. If you cannot clear the blockage, you will have to contact a professional, who will run a snake along the line to clear it.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, there are many different problems that can go wrong with your plumbing, from something so small to something big. The information in this article should help to prepare you to face those problems with knowledge and confidence.