When you make time to teach yourself plumbing, it really comes across well in your home. What is represented is you wanting to keep things working and in order properly. People see this and admire it a lot. Like with most other skills, there is always room for improvement, however. Check out some great tips on plumbing below.
Garbage Disposal
If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Cleaning your in-sink garbage disposal can extend its lifetime significantly. Using lemon rinds and cherry pits mixed with dish soap will help keep your garbage disposal operating efficiently and smelling fresh.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. 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. You can save money by only paying a single service call fee instead of ending up with multiple hours being billed from multiple visits.
A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Wait for a little while and then allow boiling water to go down the drain. Doing this periodically should keep your pipes free of hair and soap scum.
Putting a cup of any kind of baking soda followed with a cup of white vinegar each month will keep your drain running smoothly. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. This procedure will clear the hair and soap scum out of your pipes.
Overflow Holes
Regularly check your overflow holes to make sure they’re not clogged. Overflow holes are used in case the sink starts to overfill, which may not seem like a big problem–until it is. Inspect and clean the overflow holes as part of your regular household maintenance.
Always use cold water when your garbage disposal is running. The cold water keeps your blades sharp, which helps your disposal run smooth. Hot water is not recommended because of what it does to greasy products.
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, you want to use the least amount of toilet paper to clean yourself.
Swapping out old shower heads for energy-efficient ones can save you money on the energy bill. Energy efficient shower heads can save you money on your energy bill and water bill. When you install an energy-efficient shower head, you will reduce your home’s water consumption, which means money left in your pocket.
Make sure a new shower head is of high quality. People will buy the cheapest option thinking it will do the job they need it to do. Like many cheap products, however, cheap shower heads are often not durable.
If you have pipes that are clogged, try a cleaner that is enzyme based. These are cleaners that work by using natural bacteria to eat away at your clog, and turn it into a liquid that is then flushed from your pipes. The enzyme cleaners are the best on the market.
Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. A small brush (an old toothbrush is ideal) dipped in vinegar will do a great job on the aerator after it’s been removed and disassembled. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. Removing obstructions from the aerator should allow for increased water pressure.
You now have enough knowledge and skills to effectively fix a plumbing system. Terrific! The advice in this piece is meant to enhance your growing body of plumbing knowledge, and you should always continue to learn. You may even find a plumbing job or idea you like.