Water may be needed to live, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. There are not many ways to destroy a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.
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 can freeze when the ambient temperature in the area of the pipes dips below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. However, frozen pipes often burst, causing damage to your home and a hefty repair bill.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet.These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
Garbage Disposal
Get the appropriate tools, and know exactly how to use them before you start working on your plumbing. Read every manual, and use the Internet and library to research the projects that you plan on doing. Have everything you need by way of tools and information before you attempt a repair on your own.
Never use your bare hands in your garbage disposal. Even an un-powered garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous. You can search online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.
Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from getting through.The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.
You should put a strainer over your drains to catch anything that could clog your drain up. The strainer in the kitchen sink should be cleaned each time you have large particles trapped in it. The bathtub strainer will prevent hair from clogging up your drain.
By having a regular cleaning routine, which includes a combination of lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, your disposal can be kept smelling fresh and running smoothly for many years to come.
Schedule all the plumbing work simultaneously.You may be tempted to call a professional plumber if you have any minor issues, but having multiple repairs done at once allows you to save up for the cost. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Cover with a rag or plug, as a chemical reaction will occur in the pipes. After letting it sit for a few moments, clear the pipes out with a gallon of boiling water. Although this is useful for clearing away simple clogs made of hair and soap debris, it will not work for serious blockages.
Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Plug up the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction to occur. Wait for a bit, and then pour boiling water down the drain. Doing this periodically should keep your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
Don’t flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, such as diapers, tissues, because these items don’t break down and may cause clogging issues.
Run cold water through your garbage disposal. The cold water keeps your blades sharp, which helps your disposal run smooth. Using hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate in the drain, which will cause clogs in your pipes.
Some people think they can get the cheapest version at the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that they are not highly durable and can break much easier.
Frozen pipes can do very extensive and expensive plumbing repair jobs.The first thing to do is make sure that all of the outside pipes and ensure they are well insulated. When the temperature dips, disconnect and drain the hoses and turn the outside faucet off. You can save a bunch on plumbing bills by doing this.
If water that is not supposed to be there is in the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. The hose connecting the sink the the dishwasher should be at an uphill angle and then downhill to prevent the water from mixing.
Don’t bother running water when the garbage disposal is used. The truth is that water could make garbage stick to the disposal, harming things further.
Drain Cleaners
Always check your toilet and make certain it isn’t leaking. Check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank of each toilet. Now look at the bowl, if you see the water turning colors within seconds, you know there is a problem that much be addressed soon.
Don’t rely on drain cleaners constantly. Drain cleaners contain caustic and damaging chemicals that are not only harmful to you but also to your pipes. If you believe your drain is seriously clogged, hire a pro to figure out the problem.
The keys to avoiding plumbing problems is great preparation and education. Just a little information can make a big difference when it comes to preventing plumbing problems. By the same token, the homeowner who researches and prepares for tackling a plumbing problem beforehand will be able to fix the problem quicker and easier.
Rarely used valves can sometimes fuse together. You can prevent them from becoming fused by regularly maintaining them with a penetrating oil, and running water through them on a regular basis.