There are lots of things that can go wrong with plumbing. Some of these things may be simple to fix, others take some effort to deal with. Regardless of the exact issue, a good amount of plumbing knowledge is needed to ensure that repairs are done correctly and efficiently.
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. If you are lucky, you will only experience a minor inconvenience until the pipes thaw. On the other hand, they can burst, which gets messy and really expensive.
Noisy pipes are an easy problem to fix.You must anchor any type of exposed pipes.
To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, and insulate external pipes. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around it is below freezing. It could take some time for thawing to occur so that you can have running water. However, your pipes can explode, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.
Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. 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. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.
Septic Tank
Have your septic tank every five years to keep it in prime condition. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
Make a schedule for plumbing work, so it occurs all at approximately the same time. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. This can save you money since plumbers generally charge hourly, as they can’t charge multiple hours per trip if it’s only one trip out.
If your toilet will not flush, if the water level is low, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. Repeat this once your water returns back to a lower level.
Check the floors in your bathroom for soft areas around the floors. You could save money if you notice the problem as soon as possible.
Save money by getting better shower heads. A lot of the hot water that we use is used when we shower. 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.
Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from getting through. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.
By having a regular cleaning routine, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Most times, people tend to think that it is alright to purchase the most inexpensive shower head they could find. Cheap shower heads can break much more easily.
Overflow Holes
Ensure overflow holes in your sinks are not clogged. Clear overflow holes when you are doing periodic checks for problems and things that should be addressed.
Clean the buildup of sediment from your aerator to increase your water pressure if it’s low. Take the aerator apart and clean it with a brush and some vinegar. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. Your water pressure should improve because the obstructing particles or buildup have been removed.
Always have cold water when your garbage disposal. Cold water keeps blades sharp.
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.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. The moisture can actually bond the trash to your disposal, harming things further.
The key towards maintaining low plumbing bills is to prevent problems before they happen. Clogs are the top reasons for needing a major plumbing issues. Drains are easily get clogged by hair. It’s a lot easier to take hair out of a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.
Frozen pipes can cause some very extensive and expensive plumbing repair jobs. The first step is to check your outside pipes are well insulated. When it gets cooler, disconnect and drain the hoses and turn the outside faucet off. You can save money on your plumbing bills this way.
It is important to locate the main water supply cut-off valve in your home. You can locate a water meter close to it. Sinks, toilets and other fixtures may also have their own cut-off valves. Make sure your entire family knows where each shut-off valve is, and provide instructions nearby on which direction to turn the valve in to shut it off.
Don’t run the water when you use your garbage disposal. It can even cause what you put down the disposal to stick, creating damage.
Drain Cleaners
Choose which drain cleaners you use with care. Some drain cleaners contain chemicals that can hurt your pipes. Always be sure to use products that claim to be safe for pipes. There are varieties of chemicals that are not only dangerous for humans, but will also destroy certain types of bacteria that are helpful to the plumbing system.
Don’t use drain cleaners too much. Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals and can cause your pipes with frequent use. If you find that your drain is clogged, hire a pro to figure out the problem.
Check your toilet regularly for any leaks. An easy way to check for this is to add a couple drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If you then see the colors show up in the bowl right away, this means your toilet is leaking.
Do not unclog your drains with a chemical drain cleaner. Even though the products might work, the harsh chemicals they contain can damage the body, particularly if they splash on your skin, and can also damage your pipes. If you must use them, wear long sleeved shirts and gloves.
You can learn if a contractor’s license is valid licence and if any complaints have been filed against them. If they are not licensed or have complaints, you probably don’t want them working on your home.
Plumbing requires more skill then just routing water from point A to point B. A common job for a plumber is repairing water lines.
It might seem costly to purchase plumbing tools, but they can save you money over the long-term. Scour the web and look at basic plumbing repair videos to see what you might need. With the investment of plumbing tools, you won’t have the need to hire a professional plumber because you can do the repairs yourself.
As previously stated, plumbing problems range from minor to really important. Use the tips in the article above to deal with plumbing issues with less stress and confusion.