If your plumbing goes haywire, it can really cause problems in your home. There are some suggestions below to assist you in fixing plumbing problems.
Noisy pipes is an easy do-it-yourself project. Exposed pipes will have to be anchored. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
Garbage Disposal
If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. This will help relieve pressure in pipes to prevent them from bursting, which may prevent bigger damage for your home.
If your garbage disposal is having problems, don’t give in to the desire to attempt a fix by reaching down into the disposal. Your garbage disposal is a dangerous device, even when turned off. Use a guide or the Internet to locate a blueprint of your disposal, or a troubleshooting manual.
Don’t put oil, grease or fat into your drain. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. This is most true if you use a garbage disposal, as the fat causes the blades to function slower and they will become less efficient. Dispose of oils and fatty liquids in the trash.
To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda, one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. The combination will cause a chemical reaction, so just place a cloth or other object over the drain after pouring. After about 10 minutes you can flush the pipes out with boiling water. By following this tip, you should be able to clear all the soap scum, hair, and other grime out of your pipes.
You should clean your septic tank every five years! This keeps the tank from developing a buildup of sediment, thereby preventing the septic system from backing up or failing altogether as a result. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Putting in shower heads that are energy-efficient can save you a lot of money in energy costs. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home. If you spend several extra dollars putting in energy-saving shower heads, you can potentially reduce your energy bill by $100 or more annually for every shower head used in your home.
When changing your shower head, replace it with one of good quality. Some people think that one shower head is like any other, so decide on price alone. Cheap shower heads have a tendency to break easily, so make sure you get what you pay for.
When water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive and costly. Thankfully, you can prevent your pipes from freezing. First, make sure that your outside pipe are insulated well. In addition, as the weather turns colder, make it a point to drain and detach your hoses. Finally, turn off the faucet located outside. You can save money on plumbing bills by doing this.
Don’t use bleach tablets, odor removers or those blue tablets in your toilet. These products will reduce the smell, but they will also cause problems with the rubber gaskets. Over time, the damage will accumulate and could eventually stop the toilet from functioning at all.
If your home has low water pressure, you can often fix the problem by cleaning out the aerators on your fixtures. First, you need to remove the aerator, and then take it apart and clean it using a small brush that has been dipped in vinegar. Rinse the piece, put it back together, and put it back on the faucet. Clean the aerator, it might increase your water pressure.
If you have plumbing problems caused by grout in the water lines, it is best not to attempt to fix it yourself. You can attempt to dislodge the blockage or break it up to help remove it. This works better when you have plastic pipes as opposed to metal ones. However, you are likely going to have to call in a professional plumber to take care of this problem.
Drain Cleaners
You should put a strainer over your drains to catch anything that could clog your drain up. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.
Stop cleaning a persistent clog with harsh drain cleaners. Drain cleaners contain very corrosive chemicals that can cause damage to your pipes if used too much. Call a professional if you notice your drain is still clogged up.
You need to always be aware of the location of the primary water cut-off valve on your piece of property. It is likely very close to your water meter. Toilets, sinks and some other fixtures can have cut off valves of their own. You will want to make your family aware of the location of each valve, and add markings that give directions on how to shut each one off whenever an emergency arises.
Figure out how large a tank your household requires so that you can ensure there’s enough hot water to meet your family’s needs. Knowing how many people and which appliances use the hot water will help you to learn what size tank is most suitable for your home.
Never put fat, grease, or oils into your drain. They can clog your drains once they cool down. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. The best thing to do is to dispose of oil-based liquids away from your sinks.
If you are installing a new water heater and you notice a pipe extending from the drainage pipe, make sure this pipe is reconnected. This is probably what is called a recirculation pipe. This keeps the water in your home heated while reducing the amount of water wasted.
When you want to unclog a drain, it’s better not to use chemical drain openers. Despite the effectiveness of these products in unclogging pipes, the ingredients within them are not friendly to skin contact. If you feel you must use them, protect your skin by wearing long sleeved shirts and gloves.
Let’s face it, if you are not a plumber, you probably can’t solve a plumbing problem without a lot of headaches and hard work. Knowing what to do yourself, and when to call a plumber will quickly get things fixed. Use the advice offered above to help get you started.
Make sure that you’re always cleaning your garbage disposal regularly. Doing this will save you from having to repair or replace an expensive piece of equipment in the future. Prevent unsavory disposal odors through regular use of citrus peel, cherry pits and dish detergent.