Water may be the source of all life, though it can be the cause of frustration for anyone that is dealing with a plumbing issue. There aren’t many ways to destroy a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.
If you are unable to relieve a clogged toilet with a plunger, try pouring a small bucket of water into the bowl from about waist level if the level of water in the bowl is low. Once the water level gets low again, repeat the process.
You should clean your septic tank every five years for best performance. While it may cost a bit to have your septic tank pumped out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.
Garbage Disposal
If you encounter a problem with your garbage disposal, resist the urge to reach in and fix it with your bare hands. Garbage disposals always pose a possible threat, even when powered off or non-working all together. Locate your garbage disposal manual, or do an Internet search for troubleshooting advice and a diagram that illustrates your model.
Never use your bare hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even when the garbage disposal presents significant danger. You can search online to find the diagram for the disposal that you have.
Check the floors in your bathroom for soft areas around the floors. You can wind up saving your money simply by noticing the problem early as possible.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.
Don’t pour oils, grease and other oils into the drain. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades go slower and less freely. Make sure you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
If your home has a well for water and there are pink or orange stains in the sinks and tubs, this is because of iron in your water. This is something that needs to be taken care of by water softener, which can be bought at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
If your home runs on well water and you notice any orange or pink stains in your fixtures or tub, this is because of iron in your water. A water softener is the easiest way to solve hard water problems relating to rust, but you can also consult a plumber if you are unsure.
Always have cold water when your garbage disposal is running. Cold water keeps blades and allows for smoother disposal.
If you are seeing water at the bottom of the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. The hose from your sink and the dishwasher has to go up and then down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
In order to ensure that your garbage disposal will last for as long as your home, keep it clean on a regular basis. Using lemon rinds and cherry pits mixed with dish soap will help keep your garbage disposal operating efficiently and smelling fresh.
Lint Trap
Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap is clean. This will help your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.
Keep the drain in your bathtub working well by pouring one cup baking soda into the drain quickly followed by about a cup of white vinegar. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Flush it with boiling water after a few minutes. By following this tip, you should be able to clear all the soap scum, hair, and other grime out of your pipes.
Prevention is necessary when you want to keep plumbing repair bills down. Clogs present one of the main reasons people have to call a plumber. Drains are easily get clogged by hair. It’s a lot simpler to eliminate hair out of a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.
Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues due to sediment buildup.Take out the aerator, pull it apart, and brush it clean with a little vinegar.
Many shower heads are available that can help you to save money on your water bill. Most hot water is consumed in our showers. Investing just a few bucks in these newer shower heads can yield triple digit annual savings.
Do not expect to clean grout from your plumbing.You can try breaking it up the line. This works better with plastic than metal ones.
Check your faucets outdoors for drips before winter arrives. If the faucets have these problems, you must make the needed fixes prior to the arrival of freezing temperatures. Whatever the material of your pipes, very cold water pressure can make pipes crack. Even the most minute crack can cause a lot of flood or water damage to your home.
Frozen pipes can lead to a large plumbing bill. Fortunately, it’s usually an avoidable problem. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. And when the temperatures start dropping, you will want to drain your hoses and disconnect them, and then turn off all of the outside faucets. If you do this, it will help you to save on repair bills.
Plumbing Problems
You need to be properly educated and prepared in order to stay away from plumbing problems. By learning more about plumbing, a homeowner can make the right decisions and reduce the chance of plumbing problems. Also, those who are educated on plumbing can fix issues easier.
Do not attempt to remove grout from your plumbing. The grout can be broken up and sent further down. Plastic pipes, if you have them, will work better than metal. On the other hand, this situation usually ends in a call to a professional plumber.