Homeowners who have no significant knowledge of plumbing can have a headache trying to figure out how to fix their plumbing. There can be a long wait time for a professional plumber, and you can pay a lot of money for something that can be fixed without that much trouble. Keep reading to learn how to easily fix common plumbing problems.
To prevent pipes in your house from freezing, do not let the temperature in the house dip below freezing. Also, any pipes exposed to the cold should be insulated. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. If pipes do freeze, the best possible scenario would include taking time for the pipes to thaw and any frozen water to drain. They could also burst costing you a lot of money and repairs.
You can unclog a toilet by pouring warm water in the bowl from waist level. After the water level in the toilet bowl has gone down, you can repeat the procedure until the blockage is cleared.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Sit on your toilet and sway across both feet to feel if there are any spots less firm than the others. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Clean out the one in the kitchen whenever there’s something trapped there that shouldn’t be. A strainer in your bathtub should be checked occasionally and cleaned whenever necessary.
Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. While you may be tempted to call the plumber whenever you have a slight problem, scheduling it all at once gives you the opportunity to save money to pay for the repairs. It also costs less because most plumbers will charge you per hour and include a minimum rate for coming out. If you call them out multiple times, those charges for them coming out will add up quickly.
Overflow Holes
Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. If your sink starts to overflow, the water will run into the overflow holes, this might not be a huge issue, unless they are clogged. As you routinely look for things needing attention, check to be sure that the overflow holes are clear and unblocked.
To lessen the chances of toilet problems, do not use as a place to put trash. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs.
Enzyme Based
If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. Enzyme based pipe cleaners utilize natural bacteria to attack the clog and dissolve it so it can be washed away. The best cleaner available on the market are the enzyme ones.
Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. This could prevent you from a tons of trouble, and it can also prevent fires. Be sure to check the trap for tears and rips, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.
The best way to avoid plumbing bills is to prevent problems before they happen. Drain clogging is a very common plumbing problem. Loose hair is often the culprit if your drain keeps getting clogged. This can be prevented by using a drain cover or screen to keep the hair from going down the drain. Taking the hair off of the screen and disposing of it is cheaper and easier than removing it from the pipes.
If your home has low water pressure, you can often fix the problem by cleaning out the aerators on your fixtures. To clean the aerator, you first want to disassemble the faucet and remove it. After that, remove the aerator and scrub it clean with a fine brush. You can use vinegar or some other type of cleaning solution to assist in the task. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. This technique causes the water pressure to rise via the removing of any blockage within the aerator.
If grout is stuck in your plumbing, getting rid of it is likely not going to be a do it yourself project. You can try breaking it up to have it fall further which will help the flow get better. This works better with plastic piping than it does with metal. However, this problem usually requires the help of a plumber.
Drain Cleaners
Steer clear of drain cleaners whenever possible. Compounds that are ingredients in common drain cleaners are quite corrosive and can cause pipe damage if overused. When you have a plumbing blockage, consider calling out a professional to determine what the source of the problem is.
As the cold winter weather approaches, make sure that your outside faucets are not leaking or dripping. If you see that, you will have to repair it before the temperature drops to freezing. Frozen water will back up in your pipes and crack them, whether they are PVC, copper, or even steel. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood your entire home.
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!