When it’s time to fix your plumbing, you might wonder where to start, what to consider, what equipment to buy and what rules to follow. Keep reading to find guidance on how to better your plumbing capabilities.
Septic Tank
Anchoring your pipes can eliminate the hammering and squeaking noises caused by loose pipes and fitting. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. Call a plumber to help with pipes that require you to cut a hole in a wall, ceiling or floor.
A great tip to use to stop your septic tank from backing up is to make sure you have it pumped at least every five years. This will keep sediment from building and causing backup into the house, and possibly causing the septic system to fail. Pumping a septic tank might cost a lot of money, but it will cost your more money to clean any back up in sewage you may have had, and replacing your septic tank costs even more!!
Avoid using any tablets that are meant to reduce odor in and around your toilet. It may help to get rid of your toilet’s odors, but it will damage any rubber parts, causing your toilet to malfunction, or even break down.
If you have a clogged toilet with the water level very low, and plunging it isn’t working, it’s possible to resolve this by pouring warm water from a bucket directly into the toilet bowl from about waist level. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.
You do not give the plumber all the money until he is finished with his work. You might have to put money down initially before the plumber begins the job. However, do not pay everything up front; instead, only pay once the job is successfully completed. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.
Put strainers in the bottoms of your drains to stop any clogging agents from escaping down the drain. You should clean your kitchen sink’s strainer every time there is a large particle that’s trapped in it. The bathtub strainer will prevent hair from clogging up your drain.
Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup’s worth of baking soda and than a cup’s worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. Although this is useful for clearing away simple clogs made of hair and soap debris, it will not work for serious blockages.
Overflow Holes
If you encounter a problem with your garbage disposal, resist the urge to reach in and fix it with your bare hands. Even if it is are switched off, a garbage disposal can be very dangerous. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
Check overflow holes regularly to prevent blockage. Overflow holes drain sink that fill too full and may go unnoticed until they are needed. Clean overflow holes as part of your annual maintenance, and any other time you are handling general plumbing repairs.
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.
Don’t use your toilet like a trash can, and you minimize potential problems. Keep away from flushing improper items down the toilet, like cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or feminine hygiene products. These types of items can clog your toilet as they do not dissolve. Also, try to use the smallest amount of toilet paper you can.
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. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.
When changing your shower head, replace it with one of good quality. Some people think that one shower head is like any other, so decide on price alone. While it may be cheap, chances are you will have to replace it sooner, as it’s more likely to break sooner.
If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. These cleaners have natural bacteria in them, which turn sludge into liquid form that can be easily removed from your pipes. Cleaners containing enzymes are some of the best you can buy.
Frozen Pipes
Check to make sure that overflow holes are not clogged up. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. Make cleaning debris from the overflow holes part of your regular routine of maintaining your plumbing and checking it for problems and required repairs.
Frozen pipes can do very extensive and expensive damage. Fortunately, frozen pipes are easy to prevent. Insulate your outside pipes. When wintertime comes, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. A bit of prevention prevents a costly plumbing bill.
Plumbing doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you know what you’re doing. You just need the basics to get started. In order to start, you just have to know how to properly research, how to work hard, and how to use your common sense in order to discover the best methods for the job.