People may need water to live, but water can just seem like a hassle if it’s flooding your basement. One little mistake can lead to major water damage inside your home, which can end up costing you a small fortune to fix. Plumbing education and preparation makes homeowners more prepared to deal with them.
If any water pipe that you have freezes, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets in your toilet. These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.
Toilet Bowl
If you have a clogged toilet and a plunger is not helping to clear the blockage, if the water level is low, pouring a bucking of boiling water from a height into the toilet bowl could resolve the problem. You could repeat this process again if the water in the toilet bowl gets low.
Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from sliding down your drain and causing clogs. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. Kitchen filters should be changed often, while bathtub filters can be changed as needed.
Keep grease, fat and oil out of your kitchen drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. Oils are especially damaging to garbage disposals. Make certain you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda, one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. The combination will cause a chemical reaction, so just place a cloth or other object over the drain after pouring. Flush it with boiling water after a few minutes. This procedure should be able to clear pipes of hair and soap scum.
If you have a shower head that needs replacing, be sure to get one that is good quality. It’s common to think it’s fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. Cheap shower heads can break much more easily.
Lint Trap
Make sure to clean out the dryers lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Regularly check your dryer’s lint trap to see if it has any tears or holes that could potentially damage your dryer, and clog up your plumbing.
Fix issues related to low water pressure that are a result of a buildup of sediment by cleansing the aerator. Take apart the faucet, and clean the aerator with vinegar and a small brush. After the aerator is thoroughly cleaned, rinse it under clear water, put it back together, and attach it to your faucet again. This technique causes the water pressure to rise via the removing of any blockage within the aerator.
Plumbing Problems
In order to stay away from plumbing problems, you should make sure you are knowledgeable about the basics and prepared for the worst. A homeowner who learns about plumbing will make wiser decisions and be able to avoid dangerous plumbing issues. Keep the above tips in mind to be better prepared to quickly fix any plumbing problems that do arise.