Water’s the source of life, but can be the arch nemesis of those with plumbing problems. Beside natural disasters, not many other things can cause more destruction to a home than a serious problem with plumbing. Thankfully, there are many steps a homeowner can take to prevent plumbing headaches from occurring, while also minimizing problems should they happen.
If your home operates on well water and you notice pink or orange stains in your bathtub and other fixtures, this is no doubt due to iron in the water. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.
You can prevent frozen pipes within the home, by ensuring the temperature does not fall below freezing. Another important step is insulating pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures. Obviously, if it is below freezing outdoors, the pipes will be subjected to the same temperatures. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. However, they could burst, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.
Overflow Holes
Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. The overflow holes are there to make sure the sink doesn’t overfill, which can become a problem if they are blocked. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.
Run lots of cold water whenever you use your garbage disposal. Cold water keeps blades sharp and encourage a smoother disposal. Avoid using hot water, as this will liquefy grease, causing it to build up in the drain and obstruct your pipes.
You do not give the plumber all the money until he is finished with his work. You may need to make a small down payment before the job has begun, but you never want to pay the entire amount until you are certain the job was completed to your satisfaction. You want to make sure that the plumber completed everything that they said they would before they get your money.
When it is time to replace your shower head, you should consider paying a little more for a better one. Some people think it’s alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and easily break.
Choose enzyme based cleaners if your pipes get clogged. These cleaners use natural bacteria to turn the sludge into a liquid, and remove it from your pipes. The best cleaner available on the market are the enzyme ones.
Lint Trap
Check the floors in your bathroom for any give in order to be sure that there is no damage in the floors. Sit in a reversed position, putting one foot on each side of the toilet and shift your weight from side to side to check if the floor feels slightly unstable. When you have a problem like this to deal with, the earlier you detect it, the less expensive it will be to take care of.
Be sure to regularly clean out the lint trap that is in your dryer. This can save you a lot of trouble, including preventing fires. Also, check the lint trap to see if there are telltale signs that lint may be leaking into your pipes through holes and tears.
Prevention is the key to keeping your plumbing repair bills down. Drain clogging is a very common plumbing problem. Drains easily get clogged by hair. Stop hair from going down drains with a drain cover or screen designed for this purpose. Getting the hair off the screen is much simpler than removing it from the pipe.
Sometimes low pressure in water lines can be fixed just by cleaning sediment out of the aerator. Take the aerator apart and clean it with a brush and some vinegar. Rinse off the aerator then reassemble and reattach to the faucet. This should remove any obstructions that were in the aerator, thereby improving your water pressure.
If there is unwanted water draining into the dishwasher, it is most likely because of the hose to the kitchen sink being installed improperly. The hose at the kitchen sink going to the dishwasher should follow a specific uphill, then downhill pattern. This prevents unwanted mixing of water between the sink and dishwasher.
You do not have to turn the water on when you are putting things in the garbage disposal. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. The opposite is actually true. The running water can cause the disposal to clog, causing a plumbing problem.
Don’t use drain cleaners constantly. Corrosive chemicals erode the metal pipes slowly. If you believe your drain is seriously clogged, have a professional plumber examine the line.
If you’ve got issues with your toilet blocking, see if the blockage exists at the branch line which connects the sewage and main lines. A professional can help if you can’t clear the problem yourself. They will use a plumbing snake to get rid of the clog.
When water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive and costly. They can generally be prevented, though. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. In addition, as the weather turns colder, make it a point to drain and detach your hoses. Finally, turn off the faucet located outside. This will keep you from paying too much to your plumber.
Check your faucets outdoors for drips before the first winter freeze. If you see that, you will have to repair it before the temperature drops to freezing. It does not matter if the pipes are made out of steel, copper or plastic, any water pressure from frozen water will cause them to crack. Even a tiny crack can leak enough water to flood your home.
Rarely used valves tend to fuse together. Taking the time to clean these valves may save you time and money in the future.
Becoming educated on plumbing and preparing beforehand can help prevent future issues. Any homeowner who is willing to learn more about plumbing will have more favorable outcomes from maintenance and repairs; this may also make the home much safer. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.
Take advantage of the information that you can obtain from the department or division of your state government that handles consumer affairs and protection when you are thinking of hiring a plumbing contractor. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. Unless a contractor’s license is in favorable standing and up-to-date, you wouldn’t want to work with them.