Many things certainly can go wrong when you are dealing with plumbing work. Some plumbing issues are very easy to repair, while others can become quite a bit more difficult. Regardless of the difficulty, a good amount of plumbing knowledge is needed to ensure that repairs are done correctly and efficiently.
To avoid frozen pipes in your home, never allow the temperature in your house to drop below freezing and insulate any pipes that are exposed to the elements. The pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature drops below freezing. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. However, they could burst, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.
Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. This prevents sediment from building up in the tank and causing a backup into your home or causing the failure of the septic system itself. There is a cost to having a company pump out your septic tank. But, a serious backup can cost a lot more if it mean replacing the tank.
Septic Tank
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 hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to be a backup in your home. If the cost of pumping your septic tank seems a bit steep, remember that the cost of cleanup and repair of a failed septic system will be much higher.
Only pay pay the plumber once the job is done. It is customary for many companies to require you to put money down before they begin the job, but always wait to pay the rest of the balance until the job is totally finished. You should make sure the plumber did a good job before you pay in full.
If your toilet gets clogged, your plunger is not fixing it, and your water level inside of the toilet appears low, you can sometimes fix the problem by dumping warm water into your toilet at waist level (or maybe even a little higher). Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water returns back to a lower level.
If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. A garbage disposal can be dangerous, even when it is not on. Troubleshooting techniques and schematics of your garbage disposal are available on the Internet.
Frequently inspect the floors around toilets for softness; this can tell you whether or not the floors are damaged. Another great way to check is to actually sit on the toilet and move in a rocking motion, going back and forth from right to left to see how much give you feel. Early detection of the problem may save you a great deal of money over time.
Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. Of course, our natural inclination is to handle problems as they arise, but it helps to get everything done at once. Even if you only have one noticeable problem, you can still get a plumber to inspect other areas. You’ll save a ton of money by not having to pay a professional to come out multiple times, instead only paying them to show up once to handle different problems all at once.
Set up a time when all plumbing work will be completed at one time. It might be tempting to call up a plumber every time you have a small problem, but if you will save all the plumbing issues for one time, it can be helpful. It will allow you save the money for the repairs. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one visit to your home.
Baking Soda
To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda, one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. Cover the drain with a plug or rag as you wait for the chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda to happen in your pipes. Let that sit for a while, and then run boiling hot water down it. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Check overflow holes to make sure there’s no clog. You may not even notice the overflow holes on your sink, but if you have a major water leak you will soon regret your apathy. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
If you have pipes that are clogged, try a cleaner that is enzyme based. Enzyme cleaners contain bacteria that digest through solid sludge, making it weak enough to be flushed out. The cleaners which use enzymes are currently rated the best available.
Always buy a high quality fixture if you are going to replace your shower head. People usually opt for a cheap shower head instead of a quality product. While it may be cheap, chances are you will have to replace it sooner, as it’s more likely to break sooner.
Lint Trap
Always remember to keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, which can cause clogs and issues.
If you have plumbing problems caused by grout in the water lines, it is best not to attempt to fix it yourself. You might be able to break it up a little bit and then get it a little further down the line. This works best with plastic pipes as opposed to metal. It’s up to a professional to fix this problem, though.
If you have grout stuck in the line, it’s futile to try and clean it out yourself. Grout can be broken up by yourself, however this generally is only a partial fix. Having plastic pipes rather metal pipes will work a lot better. However, you may never be fully rid of the grout without the assistance of a professional.
When using the garbage disposal, do not even bother running the water. A common misconception is that if you flow water into the disposal while you’re putting solid items down there, the process will be smoother, but that just isn’t true. In contrast, it could actually cause garbage or waste to stick to the insides of the disposal and do more damage than good.
Sometimes, the plumber is chosen by an insurance company without your input, but you can look them up online anyway. Take advantage of customer feedback on your insurance carriers website. This will give you a greater level of comfort than going into it blind.
You have not choice in the matter of what plumber is scheduled sometimes, but you should still research different plumbers online. In some cases, your insurance company may select a plumber for you, but you can still research the company online.
The valves that are hardly ever used have their way of somehow fusing together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and rotate them every so often so they don’t stick.
To get your water heater to perform better, you will have to make a determination of your household needs in relation to the size of the hot water tank. If you are aware of how many people and appliances will be using hot water, you can determine the appropriate capacity.
After reading this article, you know some of the different plumbing problems that you can encounter whether large or small. The information in this article should help to prepare you to face those problems with knowledge and confidence.
Realize that branch lines can get blocked and cause sewage backups that affect main lines. If you cannot clear the blockage, you will have to contact a professional, who will run a snake along the line to clear it.