There are a lot of problems that can go wrong with plumbing. Some mishaps are easily correctable, but others can be a little more challenging. Whatever your particular situation, whether big or small, or if you can fix it yourself.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. If the temperature surrounding the pipes is anywhere below freezing, this can cause the pipes to freeze. The best result you can hope for from frozen pipes is to be without water until the pipes thaw. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are actually a lot easier to fix than you would imagine. You must anchor all exposed pipe.
Frozen Pipes
If you encounter a problem with your garbage disposal, resist the urge to reach in and fix it with your bare hands. Garbage disposals can be very dangerous, so take caution when fixing it, even while it’s turned off. Locate a diagram of the garbage disposal, or some sort of troubleshooter, online.
To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, and be certain to adequately insulate those pipes that are out in the weather. Pipes will freeze as soon as they reach freezing temperatures. It may take some time in order for the pipes to thaw so that you can have running water. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
Do not pay your plumber until they finish the problem is fixed. You might have to give them a deposit, but you never want to pay the entire amount until you are certain the job was completed to your satisfaction. You should make sure the plumber did his job before you pay him.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Every time you have large particles in the strainer of the kitchen sink, it should be cleaned thoroughly. Bathtub drains should be cleaned regularly as well.
Knowing all your different tools to use and how they are used will be a great help when you work on a plumbing job. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.
Garbage Disposal
Do not put any oil, fat, or greasy foods or products in your sink. These substances will harden as soon as they cool down, and clog your drains. Even with a garbage disposal, you are going to cause it to be less efficient and risk drain backups. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
Never use your hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Even an un-powered garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous.You can look online to get schematics or troubleshooting advice for the disposal that you have.
Use filters on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out as needed.
If you have a well at your home and notice pink or orange stains around the drains of your tub or sink, this is most likely caused by an excess of iron in your water. You will need a water softener in order to take care of this problem, which you could purchase at a local store, or hire someone to go to your home and fix it for you.
If your home uses well water and orange or pink stains become noticeable in your bathtub or in other fixtures, this is likely a result of iron levels in the well water. This is fixed by using water softener, which you can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
By having a regular cleaning routine, lemon rinds, and even cherry pits, you can keep your disposal running smoothly and smelling as fresh as the day it was installed.
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.
Shower Heads
Installing efficient shower heads could save you tons of money on your energy bill. Most of hot water is used in the shower. If you spend several extra dollars putting in energy-saving shower heads, you can realize savings of approximately $100 each year for each shower head.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. This will cut down on your plumbing bill because they can not charge you for extra trips.
If you have any water in your dishwasher that should not be there, check how the kitchen sink hoses are installed. 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.
There are two ways to get a stubborn clean-out plug. The first one is to use a hammer and chisel to see if you can get the fitting loose. The only other method is to take the chisel right through the plug.
You can save a lot of money in your energy bills by putting in efficient shower heads. The shower uses most of the hot water. You can save up to a few hundred dollars a year by simply installing shower heads that are energy efficient.
Check your faucets outside for dripping or leaking before the first winter freeze. If leaks are detected, then the repairs need to be make prior to any freezing temperatures. Whatever material your pipes are built from, freezing water causes pressure that can make them crack.Even a small crack can make enough water leak to cause a major flood your home.
To make sure that your water heater is running efficiently, you will have to make a determination of your household needs in relation to the size of the hot water tank.
Don’t skimp on quality when it’s time to replace that shower head. It’s common to think it’s fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. However, cheap parts don’t work as well and break down more quickly.
As was said earlier, many problems can occur with plumbing, both large and small. The information provided in this article will help you to deal with these problems without stress.