Now is a great time to become more knowledgeable about plumbing. You have probably considered learning about it before, but never got around to it. Read the tips in this guide and you’ll be happy you did it if ever you experience any plumbing issues.
You can prevent frozen pipes within the home, by ensuring the temperature does not fall below freezing. Another important step is insulating pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. The best result you can hope for from frozen pipes is to be without water until the pipes thaw. But, more importantly, the pipes can burst, which will cause a huge mess and big repair bill.
If you have a pipe that freezes, you should turn on the faucet that is close to the pipe; this way, the water has a place to go. This assists you in relieving pressure within the pipe, and could stop any bursting from occurring, which can prevent additional damage to your home.
Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished the job. You might have to give them a deposit, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You will feel better paying the bill when you are completely satisfied with the job.
Avoid using any tablets that are meant to reduce odor in and around your toilet. While they may make your toilet smell pretty, they can erode the rubber parts in the toilet and cause it to stop working.
If a plunger is ineffective, you might be able to do the trick with a bucket of warm water. If the water goes down to a lower level again, then you should repeat the procedure.
Garbage Disposal
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals are not healthy places for hands to be, even if they are not running. Troubleshooting techniques and schematics of your garbage disposal are available on the Internet.
Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. This is most true if you use a garbage disposal, as the fat causes the blades to function slower and they will become less efficient. Dispose of oils and fatty liquids in the trash.
Cleaning your in-sink garbage disposal can extend its lifetime significantly. By regularly incorporating a routine using a combination of dish soap, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. It might be tempting to hire a plumber for every little problem, but if you can save it up for one big fix, then you have time to set money aside for these repairs. You will also save because plumbers usually charge hourly rates, so hours they can charge you are reduced if there is only one trip made.
Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. This procedure should clear the pipes of soap scum and accumulated hair.
To lessen the chances of toilet problems, do not use as a place to put trash. You should never flush cotton balls, sanitary pads, tissues, paper towels, diapers, or certain other materials, because these things don’t dissolve and could clog up your toilet. Also, use as little toilet paper as possible to clean yourself properly.
Get a good quality replacement shower head. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.
Letting your sink run is not really necessary when you put something down the in-sink disposal unit. Although some say that running water will help keep the disposal running smoothly, this isn’t always the case. It could even cause food to stick to the blades of the disposal, creating damage.
As the weather turns frosty, make sure faucets outside are not dripping or leaking. If leaks are detected, it is important to repair them before the temperature drops below freezing. Whatever material your pipes are built from, very cold water pressure can make pipes crack. Even the smallest of cracks can leak enough to damage or flood your home.
Valves that are rarely used tend to fuse together. You can maintain them using penetrating oil, and make sure to turn them once in a while so that they do not start sticking.
It is very important to know how to do plumbing yourself, because it could save you a lot of money over time. If anything ever goes wrong with your pipes or drains, you will have the knowledge to fix it in a hurry without having to spend big money by calling in the professionals. Hopefully this article proved interesting and useful.
