Tools You Might Need When Doing Plumbing Work

Once you own a home, you can expect problems to arise with your plumbing sooner or later. The bathroom and kitchen are the most frequent sites for these problems. Eventually, nearly every homeowner has to face one type of plumbing issue or another. This article offers sound advice for dealing with a wide variety of plumbing problems when they occur.

Don’t let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.

If your water pipe freezes, switch on the nearest faucet tap to that pipe so that water can exit when the pipe thaws. This gives the pressure somewhere to go, and can keep them from bursting.

Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properly maintained. This prevents sediment from building up in the tank and causing a backup into your home or causing the failure of the septic system itself. Pumping a septic tank might cost a lot of money, but it will cost your more money to clean any back up in sewage you may have had, and replacing your septic tank costs even more!!

TIP! Do not use harsh chemicals to clean or treat your toilet. These products can be great when it comes to getting rid of odors, but unfortunately, they can cause significant damage to the rubber portions of your toilet.

Do not give a plumber the entire payment for a job until the whole job is completed. There might be a down payment required, but you do not give him the total cost before he is finished. This ensures that the plumber fully completes the job before getting paid.

Check your floors for softness around toilets, so that you can ascertain if there is any floor damage. Put a foot on each side of the toilet and put weight on each side, if you have any give you may have damage. You can save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.

Put the strainer on top of drains to catch any food that would go down and cause a clog. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. Kitchen filters should be changed often, while bathtub filters can be changed as needed.

If you discover a problem with the garbage disposal, don’t ever reach into it with your hands to attempt to fix it. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even if they are powered off. Troubleshooting techniques and schematics of your garbage disposal are available on the Internet.

TIP! Frequently inspect the floors around toilets for softness; this can tell you whether or not the floors are damaged. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you.

Clean your garbage disposal regularly to prolong the life of your disposal. By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.

Keep your bathtub drain running well by pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain each month. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. Your pipes will soon be clear of accumulated hair and soap scum.

Overflow Holes

Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.

TIP! Never put fat, grease, or oils into your drain. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains.

You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.

If grout is stuck in your plumbing, getting rid of it is likely not going to be a do it yourself project. You could try to break up all the grout to send it down further. This is more successful in plastic plumbing as compared to metal pipes. This is a tough problem, however, that very often requires professional intervention.

If you have to take out the clean out plug and cannot do it, you can do it this two ways. First, you can hammer a chisel around the fitting base to loosen it. The other option is chiseling through to clean out the plug.

If you want your garbage disposal to have the same lifespan as your total home, clean it regularly. Keep your garbage disposal fresh and running by using dish soap, cherry pits and lemon rinds regularly.

TIP! Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling.

Research potential plumbers before hiring one. Some plumbers aren’t experienced or skilled enough to do certain jobs, which makes the problem worse. Research reviews on the plumbers in your area, or ask family or friends about their recommendations.

Always check your toilet and make certain it isn’t leaking. A simple way to check this is to put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl, this means your toilet is leaking.

Always know in your mind exactly where the valve is that will cut the water off on your property. Where the water enters from the main line, should be a meter for tracking water usage. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures should also have cut-off valves. Make sure the entire family is familiar with these valves, and mark the shut-off position for ease of use.

You should always clean your dryer’s lint trap. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. See to it that you look at the lint trap and find out if it has tears or holes in it that could cause lint to go inside your pipes. This could lead to clogs or other problems in the future.

TIP! The secret to low or even no repair bills from plumbing issues is prevention. Clogs are a big problem with plumbing, and they are quite common.

Size Tank

To be efficient about the water heater, you have to figure out what size tank is required by your household. If you know how many people are in the home and how many appliances use hot water, you will have a good idea of what size tank is appropriate.

Don’t use chemical drain opener to unclog drains. The chemicals can be damaging to your skin, but will open your drain. If you plan on using chemicals, then wear adequate protection such as long sleeved shirts and gloves.

If grout is stick within the line, it is likely useless to try cleaning it on your own. The grout can be broken up and sent further down. Plastic pipes, if you have them, will work better than metal. However, you may never be fully rid of the grout without the assistance of a professional.

TIP! Sometimes you have no choice in what plumber you have scheduled, but you can still research them online. If your insurance provider has set up the appointment, check the company website to see customer reviews and feedback.

If you notice that water is dripping behind your walls, you must turn off the water main and telephone a plumber. This particular problem is often a sign of a major plumbing issue. These types of problems can lead to the development of unsafe mold or mildew or may even cause flooding.

In the world of plumbing, there are many novices. As a professional, it may be in your best interest to take on a skilled apprentice. This is a beneficial way get inexpensive help, as well as a fulfilling way to teach a younger person your skills.

The worst thing to do is being unprepared when plumbing problems arise. If you own a home, you should have some basic plumbing equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it. If you’ve got a plumbing issue down the road, the tips you learned should help you a lot.

Those valves will rarely get fully used but can fuse together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and turn them every so often to keep them from sticking.

TIP! The Department of Consumer Affairs is a great place to check if you need a plumbing contractor. You can learn if a contractor’s license is valid and if any complaints have been filed against them.