Water may be needed to live, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. There are not many ways to destroy a house faster than to leave a major plumbing problem unfixed.
If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. If pipes do freeze, the best possible scenario would include taking time for the pipes to thaw and any frozen water to drain. The other option is the pipes may burst, which would result in significant repair costs and a mess to clean up.
If you have a water pipe that freezes, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. This will help relieve pressure in pipes to prevent them from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.
You should clean your septic tank every five years for best performance. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, cleaning up sewage backup in your home will ultimately cost much more.
If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water returns back to a lower level.
Check the floors in your bathroom for soft areas around the toilet to determine floor damage.You can save money by noticing the problem early on.
Don’t put things like fat, grease and other oils into the drain. This is especially damaging to garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. Make certain you dispose of oils in other places other than the sink.
If your house uses well water and you start to see orange or pink stains in your tub and other water fixtures, you have too much iron in your water. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.
Schedule one plumber to take care of all your plumbing work at the same time. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but kicking the can on some issues until you have a list means you can save a few bucks. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
It is very important to run your faucet with cold water when running your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades sharp and makes the disposal run more smoothly.
Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Check your lint trap for holes to make sure the lint is not going in your plumbing system.
Kitchen Sink
If water is draining into a dishwasher, it’s probably due to the kitchen sink’s hose being improperly installed. The hose connecting the kitchen sink and the dishwasher has to go upward before going back down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
If you’re removing clean out plugs and you’re unsuccessful, you can use two methods to do it successfully. A hammer and chisel can be used to slacken the fitting. If that fails, you will have to cut completely through the plug.
Don’t flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, sanitary napkins, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.
Some people think it’s alright to get away with the cheapest version at the store. The problem with this is that they are not very sturdy and can break.
If you find yourself needing a plumber, don’t hire one until you have checked out his or her credentials. Some of the plumbers out there can not do every job, and they may end up causing you more problems than you started with. Check the reviews on any plumber you are considering, and ask friends and family for the name of a plumber that they use and trust.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes.These cleaners have natural bacteria in them, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes. Enzyme based cleaners should be your first choice.
The best way to avoid plumbing repair bills is prevention.Drain clogging is a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly. Drains easily clogged by hair.It’s a lot easier to take hair that is on a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.
If you notice a leak somewhere in your walls, turn off the water supply, and contact a plumber at once. This indicates a serious plumbing problem. Having leaks such as this could possibly lead to harmful instances of mold or mildew or possibly even flooding.
Frozen pipes can cause some very extensive and expensive damage. The first thing to do is ensure your outside pipes are well insulated.When colder weather is approach, disconnect and drain the hoses and turn the outside faucet off. This can save some serious money on plumbing bills.
The keys to avoiding plumbing problems is great preparation and education. Any homeowner who is willing to learn more about plumbing will have more favorable outcomes from maintenance and repairs; this may also make the home much safer. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.
If you are purchasing plumbing fixtures, think about selecting brass ones. Brass tends to be much more durable than other materials in plumbing, so you will not need to replace the fixtures as frequently. Brass fixtures are also more appealing to the eye when compared to similar styles. You can find these in home improvement stores.