Having good working plumbing is very important part of managing your home. This article can be a great database of knowledge for helping you hints on how to maintain and fix your own plumbing.
If your pipes are making a racket, there is a simple way to quiet them down. Anchoring exposed pipes will decrease the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. If the pipes are in the walls, floors or ceiling, you may want to call a professional to come and help complete the project.
To prevent pipes from freezing, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, and insulate external pipes. Pipes have the potential to freeze as soon as they reach freezing mark. It takes time in order for thawing to occur so you can have running water. However, they could burst, which will cause an enormous mess and repair bill.
If your pipes freeze, turn on a nearby faucet so that thawed ice has a place to go. This will relieve pressure and might prevent the pipe from bursting, which can prevent further damage to your home.
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. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. The best case scenario is that you can heat the pipes and the water will start flowing again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.
Do not pay anything until the job. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You want to know the plumber did what he promised before he is reimbursed for the entire amount.
Don’t use any colored tablets in your toilet.These may deodorize, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers 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.
If your house uses well water and there are orange or pink stains in tubs or sinks, you have too much iron in your water. This is fixed by using water softener, which you can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
By having a regular cleaning routine, which includes a combination of lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
Keep grease, fat and oil out of your kitchen drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. This is especially the case if you possess a garbage disposal; fats and oils cause blades to run less efficiently and slow. To keep your kitchen pipes clear, never dispose of grease down your sink drain.
Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain every month. Plug the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur.Wait for a bit, and then use boiling water to flush. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair to soap scum.
Kitchen Sink
If you have a well at your home and notice pink or orange stains around the drains of your tub or sink, this is most likely caused by an excess of iron in your water. Luckily, you can quickly fix this by adding some water softener to your supply. You can pick up this product at a lot of stores, or have it shipped out to you.
If the hose that leads to your kitchen sink has not been maintained or installed properly, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
Frozen pipes can cause you to incur expensive plumbing bill. The first thing to do is make sure that all of the outside pipes and ensure they are well insulated. When it gets cooler, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. You can save money on your plumbing bills by doing this.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. The majority of hot water is consumed by showers. Investing just a few bucks in these newer shower heads can yield triple digit annual savings.
Drain Cleaners
Try to avoid the use drain cleaners as often as you can.Drain cleaners contain very corrosive chemicals and can actually damage to your pipes if used too much. If your drain is clogged, have a professional plumber examine the line.
Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket to keep potential problems to a minimum. Don’t flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn’t dissolve, as these can clog it. Also, you want to use the least amount of toilet paper to clean yourself.
If you require the services of a plumber, check out their reviews before hiring. A plumber that is not be experienced enough to fix your problem. Check out online reviews of various plumbing companies, and ask your friends and family for recommendations.
Check your faucets outdoors for dripping or leaking before winter freeze.If water is continually dripping, they will have to be repaired before temperatures reach the freezing point. Whatever material your pipes are built from, freezing water causes pressure that can make them crack.Even a small crack will let enough water to flood your home.
The dryer has a lint trap that must be kept clean. This will save you trouble, such as preventing fires. Always check your lint trap for damage, such as holes or tears. This could allow lint to enter your pipes, leading to clogs or other plumbing complications.
As made obvious here, there is quite a few things that can be done to fix up your home plumbing. If you can follow these tips and implement them correctly, you should have no trouble fixing your plumbing and ultimately saving a lot of money compared to hiring a plumber.