It is a common occurrence after you purchase a home to eventually see plumbing problems start to crop up. Most plumbing problems are found in the kitchen and bathroom. Every homeowner has to deal with plumbing issues. The following advice will help, when that homeowner is you.
To prevent pipes from freezing, don’t let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, and insulate external pipes. The pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature drops below freezing. In the best case scenario, you will have to wait until they thaw so that the water runs again. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.
If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.
To keep your septic tank in good working order, it is advisable to have it pumped out every five years. Having it cleaned out prevents the sediment from accumulating in the septic tank and creating a sewage backup in your house or triggering the meltdown of the entire septic system. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
Your plumbing experience can go a lot smoother when you know your tools, as well as how to handle them properly. Read all of the equipment’s manuals and read up as much as you can on plumbing projects. When planning on repairs, plan on having a plan.
Check carefully around the base of your toilet for any damage caused by leaks. Straddle your toilet and gently rock foot to foot to see if your floor feels a little weak or soft. You can save money by noticing and treating this problem as early as possible.
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals always pose a possible threat, even when powered off or non-working all together. Research your disposal online to locate a detailed diagram or troubleshooting guide for your model.
Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. They can clog your drains once they cool down. A garbage disposal can even become clogged by hardened grease and it will not run at optimum speed and efficiency. You should dispose of all oils outside of the sink.
Garbage Disposal
Keep your garbage disposal clean to make sure it lasts for awhile. Create a routine that uses both normal soaps and natural materials like cherry pits of lemon rinds. With this, you’ll be able to keep your garbage disposal running and smelling like new.
To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. Cleaning can be done with a variety of things you may already have in your home, such as dish-washing soap, the rinds of lemons, or the pits of cherries. When you create a regular cleaning schedule, you can make sure your garbage disposal runs in tip-top shape and smells fresh and like new.
Ensure that the overflow holes in your sinks are not clogged. Overflow holes drain sink that fill too full and may go unnoticed until they are needed. Clean the overflow holes when you can, like when doing periodic checks for various other repairs and problems.
It is never a good thing to be unprepared if a plumbing problem should occur. All homeowners should have at least a basic understanding on plumbing tools and improvement tips. Avoid a huge plumbing issue by learning to handle the smaller issues as they occur.