If you don’t know what you’re doing when it comes to plumbing, you might find the whole situation a big headache. Professional plumbers can have a wait time, and are very expensive for something that could usually be solved without too much trouble. Keep reading to learn how to easily fix common plumbing problems.
You can easily fix noisy pipes. You simply have to securely fasten any pipes that are exposed. You may need to hire a professional to help with any projects involving pipes that are hidden in the floors, ceiling or walls.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. The pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature drops below freezing. It may take time to thaw so that you can have running water. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.
Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. The strainer used in the kitchen will need to be cleaned frequently. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.
Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. Whenever they cool, they tend to harden and make clogs inside your drains. Your garbage disposal is particularly vulnerable to this issue, as the fat solids will slow the motion of the blades. This results in the disposal operating less efficiently. The best thing to do is to dispose of oil-based liquids away from your sinks.
Garbage Disposal
Get to know the tools and how they are used for the most success in plumbing. Read each and every manual, and utilize the information that can be found in libraries and the Internet about do-it-yourself projects. Prior to attempting any repairs, be certain to plan ahead in order to avoid expensive errors.
In order to ensure that your garbage disposal will last for as long as your home, keep it clean on a regular basis. By regularly “cleaning” the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can make sure that your garbage disposal is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.
Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. These passages allow your sink to fill up without overflowing onto your floor, and if they’re blocked that can cause you a major headache. Inspect and clean the overflow holes as part of your regular household maintenance.
Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. The cold water keeps your blades sharp, which helps your disposal run smooth. When you use hot water, any grease that is in the garbage will melt and be more prone to stopping up your drain.
Don’t use any colored tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet. While they are good at removing odors, they have a detrimental effect on the parts of the toilet that are rubber. This can make it not function correctly and may even break it.
If you have clogged pipes and thinking about using a pipe cleaner, one that is enzyme based is highly recommended. A enzyme-based cleaner will remove the clog by turning it into a liquid, freeing it from the drain. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are enzyme cleaners.
Always remember to keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Be certain that you thoroughly inspect the trap to ensure there are no tears or holes that may allow lint to travel to the pipes.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
If you aren’t having any luck using a plunger on a clogged toilet, you may want to try pouring warm water into it from waist high. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.