It really shows when you take the time do learn how to do the plumbing yourself. Doing so illustrates that you are concerned with appropriate maintenance, and so you are willing to maintain order with your own time, sweat and hands. This is really respectable, even inspirational. As with any other learned skill, you can augment and enhance your knowledge over time. Below you will see some helpful tips.
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. If the temperature surrounding the pipes is anywhere below freezing, this can cause the pipes to freeze. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Septic systems can back up when the septic tank builds up sediment. This can even result in the septic system failing altogether. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
If your garbage disposal is having problems, don’t give in to the desire to attempt a fix by reaching down into the disposal. Even when they are turned off, disposals can be very dangerous. Use a guide or the Internet to locate a blueprint of your disposal, or a troubleshooting manual.
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. Put a rag over the drain afterward, though, to keep the chemicals from coming back up after the reaction. Wait a while, and then use boiling water to flush. Doing this will clear your pipes of any soap scum or hair that has accumulated.
Overflow Holes
Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. Overflow holes are one of those things which you forget about until you need them. As you routinely look for things needing attention, check to be sure that the overflow holes are clear and unblocked.
Flush your drain with a constant stream of cold water when operating your drain mounted disposal unit. Cold water will allow for the food particles to be properly disposed of while keeping the blades sharp. Running hot water down the drain while you are using the garbage disposal can cause the drain to clog from any grease that is in there liquefying.
Get a good quality replacement shower head. Most times, people tend to think that it is alright to purchase the most inexpensive shower head they could find. Cheap shower heads are not well-made and are very likely to break. Buying a cheap shower head will end up costing you more money over the long-term.
If you have a toilet that is backing up, this can be from a blockage. If you are unable to fix the blockage, you will need to hire a professional to run a snake in the line to clean it.
Infrequently used valves can stiffen with age and become inoperable. You can prevent them from becoming fused by regularly maintaining them with a penetrating oil, and running water through them on a regular basis.
You have the knowledge, tools, and skills to apply all three to the plumbing system. This is wonderful! From here, you need experience to get better. There is no limit to the amount of knowledge and experience you can have with plumbing, as it’s an area where learning is always part of the job. Hopefully, you have gathered a good deal of new information and perhaps even developed a preferred method that was unknown to you before.
