While it’s the source of life, water is the enemy of a homeowner facing plumbing problems. Nothing except for a natural disaster will cause more harm to a home than a serious plumbing problem. Fortunately, homeowners can take a lot of steps to prevent plumbing nightmares and to minimize the effects when they occur.
Anchoring your pipes can eliminate the hammering and squeaking noises caused by loose pipes and fitting. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. If pipes are located in the floors, ceiling or walls, a professional might be needed for the job.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. If the ambient temperature around the pipes is below freezing, the pipes can freeze. If they freeze, it will be awhile for them to gradually warm. Therefore, it will take some time for you to have running water again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.
You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.
Avoid the use of products for your toilet that help with odor, such as bleach tablets. These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.
You can unclog a toilet by pouring warm water in the bowl from waist level. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.
If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. Garbage disposals are not healthy places for hands to be, even if they are not running. You can look online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.
Make sure there is a strainer covering all drains in order to collect particles that would cause a clog if they went down the drain. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. When they cool, they’ll harden and clog your drain. Grease is of particular concern when there is a disposal unit installed in your drain. It can cause the unit to lose efficiency. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. Put a rag over the drain afterward, though, to keep the chemicals from coming back up after the reaction. After giving the mixture time to work, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. This procedure should clear the pipes of soap scum and accumulated hair.
Shower Heads
By installing shower heads that are more efficient, you will be able to save a lot of money. Most of the hot water we use is used while we are showering. Investing just a few bucks in these newer shower heads can yield triple digit annual savings.
Should you spot unexpected water draining inside the dishwasher, you will probably need to check that the hose from the kitchen sink has been installed correctly. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go upward before going back down so that there is no mixing between fixtures.
Superior quality is important when it comes to shower fixtures. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. However, cheap parts don’t work as well and break down more quickly.
Frozen pipes can lead to a large plumbing bill. However, most of the time, you can prevent this from happening. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. Once the temperature starts to drop, disconnect your hoses after you have drained them out, and make sure the outside faucet is turned off. If you take these preventative measures, you will save money in the long run.
Garbage Disposal
A good tip to use when using your garbage disposal is to leave the water turned off. Water will not make your garbage disposal run smoothly. Some things can stick to the disposal, and cause it to become damaged beyond repair.
Main water cut off valve is a very important piece of information you should be aware of, and you should know exactly where it is. There should be a nearby water meter. Toilets, sinks and some other fixtures can have cut off valves of their own. Show each family member the location of the valves, and mark them so people can turn them off in an emergency.
Many people find the idea of plumbing repairs to be frightening because of the potential destruction, if a mistake is made. By only knowing one thing, this nightmare can be avoided. Know where your main water valve is so you can quickly turn off your water supply and prevent water damage.
If your washing machine’s drain pipe backs up, the first step is to snake it with a regular pipe snake. The pipe may be clogged up due to lint.
Plumbing Problems
The key to avoid plumbing problems is a combination of technical knowledge and access to the requisite materials. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. A homeowner who knows something about plumbing can often fix issues before they become major crises.