Water may be the source of all life, but it is sometimes a nemesis to a homeowner with plumbing problems. There aren’t many ways to destroy a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, maintain a constant temperature in your home above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. Pipes will freeze if they reach freezing temperatures. It could take some time for thawing to occur so that you can have water again. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.
Knowing what tools are what and how to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Before undertaking repairs on your own, plan ahead, or you may make a costly mistake.
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Read manuals and do some research on the internet before starting a plumbing project. Before undertaking repairs on your own, you should have a plan; otherwise, a mistake could make repairs even more costly.
If your toilet is clogged, your plunger is not fixing it, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, you can sometimes fix the problem by dumping warm water into your toilet at waist level (or maybe even a little higher). Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water goes back to a lower level.
Use a drain strainer to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.
Don’t use bleach tablets, odor removers or those blue tablets in your toilet. These products may well remove odors, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, your disposal can be kept smelling fresh and running smoothly for many years to come.
Always use cold water running when your garbage disposal is running. Cold water keeps blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly.
Check your floors for softness around toilets, so that you can ascertain if there is any floor damage. Stand above the toilet with a foot positioned on each side up close to the base. Shift your weight back and forth to detect any weakness or sponginess. This will save you a lot of trouble and money if you find the issue before something horrible happens.
Shower Heads
Installing shower heads that are more effective can save you a lot of money when it comes to your energy bill. Most of the hot water is used in the shower. By installing energy-efficient shower heads for a few extra dollars, you could save at least $100 a year per person who showers in your house.
Keep your garbage disposal clean to make sure it lasts for awhile. By having a regular cleaning routine, which includes a combination of lemon rinds, dish soap and even pits from a cherry, your disposal can be kept smelling fresh and running smoothly for many years to come.
If you notice water draining into your dishwasher, most likely this is due to a faulty setup of the hose that leads from the kitchen sink. The hose from your sink and the dishwasher has to go upward before going back down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
Don’t flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.
Installing more efficient shower heads can save you tons of money on your energy bill. Most of the hot water we use is in the shower. When you install energy-efficient heads in each bathroom, you will save around 100 dollars or more per shower.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes.Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that digest through solid sludge, allowing it to flow down the drain with ease. Enzyme based cleaners are considered one of the best the market has.
Lint Trap
To minimize potential problems with your toilet, avoid using it as a trash receptacle. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. Also, be conservative in your use of toilet paper.
Be sure that the dryer’s lint trap of any debris. This will ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and may also prevent fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.
Having a basic knowledge and being prepared are the first steps to successful plumbing repairs. Even just learning the basics will go a long way to prevent costly and damaging mistakes. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.
Prevention is the key to keeping your plumbing repair bills down. Clogged drains are one of the more common issues when it comes to plumbing problems. Practically anything can get stuck in those drains and cause them to lock up, including hair, foreign objects and sediment. There are ways around this; you can use a drain cover or screen which is actually designed in order to keep your pipes and drain free of hair. Most objects will not fall through the drain cover, and even hair usually won’t make it through.