Proper plumbing is key to a vital element to home maintenance.This article provides some fantastic tips for helping you maintain and fix your plumbing.
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. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. However, they might burst, which will cause an enormous mess and repair bill.
Knowing your tools and the proper way to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Before attempting any repairs, plan ahead, a mistake could make repairs even more costly.
If your toilet gets clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and the plunger is not working, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. Do this every time the water level dips back down again.
If you have a water pipe that freezes, have the tap closest to it turned on so the water can exit while the pipe thaws. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Garbage Disposal
Never put your bare hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even an un-powered garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous.You can search online to get schematics or troubleshooting advice for the disposal that you have.
You should clean your septic tank every five years! 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. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it will cost a lot more having to clean sewage backup or having to fix or replace a septic tank.
By regularly “cleaning” the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can ensure that your disposal runs smoothly and smells as fresh as one that is brand new.
Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain every month.Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction to occur. After a few minutes, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. This method should help clear your pipes of hair and soap scum.
Know your plumbing tools and exactly how to use them before you start on any plumbing repair. Make sure to read all of your manuals, and use things such as the library and the internet to read up on do it yourself projects. Be sure to have a plan ahead of time before trying any type of repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Overflow Holes
Ensure overflow holes have not clogged. Clear the overflow holes periodically when you are doing your periodic checks for other problems and plumbing issues that need to be repaired.
Try to never pour grease, fat, or any oil-based liquids into your drains. Oils will eventually harden and clog up your drain. Oils are especially damaging to garbage disposals. Make certain you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
Don’t flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.
Clean your dryer’s lint filter. This will help your dryer operates efficiently and prevents 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.
To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. Create a routine that uses both normal soaps and natural materials like cherry pits of lemon rinds. With this, you’ll be able to keep your garbage disposal running and smelling like new.
Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues which result from sediment buildup. Take the aerator off, pull it apart, and clean inside with a brush soaked in vinegar.
If you require the services of a plumber, check out his or her credentials first. A plumber that is not be experienced enough to fix your problem. Check reviews, and ask friends and family for the name of a plumber that they use and trust.
However, if you mix a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda and send them down your tub’s drain each month, the flow will keep going smoothly. Plug the drain afterwards or cover it with a washcloth, as the two chemicals are going to react with each other. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. Your pipes will soon be clear of accumulated hair and soap scum.
If you have a toilet that is backing up, it is often due to blockages contained in the lateral connections connected to the main sewage line. If you have difficulty removing this blockage, you will have to contact a professional, usually a plumber’s snake.
You have to always know where the primary water shut off valve is in your home. You can locate a water meter located on it or close to it. Fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, may also have individual shut-off valves.Make sure every member of the family knows where the values are located, and provide instructions nearby on which direction to turn the valve in to shut it off.
Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. Overflow holes divert water when a sink starts to fill up. That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be a big problem if there is a clog. Make cleaning debris from the overflow holes part of your regular routine of maintaining your plumbing and checking it for problems and required repairs.
It is not necessary to call a plumber for every problem. The preceding tips have given you the ability to take care of the smaller plumbing tasks around the home. Following the advice in this article and learning these techniques will prove extremely valuable if you ever have a plumbing emergency. They will also help you save money because in some cases, you will be able to avoid hiring the services of a plumber.