When you have to do your own plumbing jobs, you might wonder where to start, equipment, what equipment to buy and what rules to follow. The tips laid out here can help you with what information you need to know to become a skilled plumber.
To keep your pipes from getting frozen, always maintain a temperature in the house above freezing and make sure all pipes exposed to outside elements are insulated properly. 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, frozen pipes often burst, causing damage to your home and a hefty repair bill.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy do-it-yourself project. You must anchor any exposed pipe.
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, even if the house is vacant. Pipes will freeze as soon as they reach freezing temperatures. It could take some time to thaw out so that you can have running water. However, your pipes can explode, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.
If a water pipe freezes, you should turn the on tap that is nearest to the pipe to ensure the water has a place to get out when the pipe thaws out. This relieves the pressure contained in the pipe as it also prevents it from bursting, which would reduce the damage done to your house.
If you have a pipe that freezes, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. This will relieve pressure and might prevent the pipe from bursting, which can prevent further damage to your home.
Knowing your tools and the proper way to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Before undertaking repairs on your own, you should have a plan; otherwise, or you may make a costly mistake.
Your plumbing experience can go a lot smoother when you know your tools, as well as how to handle them properly. Study before any do it yourself project by reading any relevant manuals, going online and even making trips to your local public library. You need to conduct research before attempting a repair, because it could be expensive to correct an error.
If your toilet happens to be clogged, your plunger is not fixing it, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may fix the problem by dumping warm water from a bucket into your toilet from about waist level. Repeat this once your water returns back to a lower level.
By regularly “cleaning” the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and citrus rinds, you can ensure that your disposal runs smoothly and smells as fresh as one that is brand new.
If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. Garbage disposals always pose a possible threat, even when powered off or non-working all together. Locate your garbage disposal manual, or do an Internet search for troubleshooting advice and a diagram that illustrates your model.
Schedule all your plumbing work simultaneously.You might be tempted to contact a plumber every time you face a small problem, but if you have problems repaired all at once, you can save up money for repairs.Most plumbers charge an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
Pour equal parts baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain every month. Plug up the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. After letting it sit for a few moments, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. This procedure should be able to clear pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Put the strainer on top of drains to catch any food that would go down and cause a clog. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.
Overflow Holes
Ensure that your overflow holes aren’t clogged up. Clear overflow holes when you are doing your periodic checks for problems and things that need to be repaired.
You can greatly extend the life of your garbage disposal by regularly cleaning it. By incorporating a regular cleaning routine, your garbage disposal can stay running smoothly. One way to clean your disposal is to run dish detergent and lemon rinds through your garbage disposal. As an added benefit, this technique will also eliminate any scents from your disposal.
Don’t flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, sanitary napkins, tissues, because these items don’t break down and may cause clogging issues.
Some people think they can get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. The problem with this is that they are not highly durable and can break much easier.
One easy way to save on energy and water is to install efficiency-oriented shower heads. Most households use a lot of hot water in the shower. When you install energy-efficient heads in each bathroom, you will save around 100 dollars or more per shower.
Frozen pipes can do very extensive and expensive plumbing problems. The first step is to check your outside pipes are well insulated. When it gets colder, drain and disconnect the hoses and shut off your outside faucet. This will help to save you money on pipe repairs over time.
There are two ways to get a stubborn clean-out plug. The first method involves a hammer and chisel to see if you can get the fitting loose. Your only other option to try is to chisel through the actual plug itself.
Do not flush unneeded things down your toilet if you want to lessen your chance of having issues. Don’t flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn’t dissolve, as these can clog it. Even toilet tissue should be used conservatively. Use enough to clean yourself, of course, but if you need to use wads of tissue you should flush several times in the process instead of waiting till the end.
If sewage backs up into a toilet in your home, this is due to a blockage in the branch line connecting the main line and sewage line. If you can’t clear the line, a plumber can put a snake through to clear it out.
Those valves that rarely get fully used but can fuse together. Maintain the water valves every so often with a qualtiy penetrating oil, and turn them every so often to keep them from sticking.
If you need to buy a pipe cleaner to unclog your pipes, it is best to find one that is enzyme based. Enzyme based pipe cleaners utilize natural bacteria to attack the clog and dissolve it so it can be washed away. The enzyme cleaners are the best on the market.
As you have seen, plumbing, while appearing intimidating, is not all that complicated. There are just certain aspects of plumbing a person needs to know. You just need to do some research, use common sense, and work to find the most effective method to complete your job.