Well-maintained plumbing is key in keeping your home free from damage. There may be times, though, when your plumbing system needs work and you can’t afford to call a professional, or you don’t have time to sit at home and wait for one. The tips provided below will teach you some great ways in which you can easily handle issues with the plumbing in your home.
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. But, be advised that your pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature near those pipes is less than freezing. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. At worst, they will burst and you’ll be paying to repair the damage.
You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. These products can be great when it comes to getting rid of odors, but unfortunately, they can cause significant damage to the rubber portions of your toilet. This can lead to it breaking down or having other issues.
Sifting drainers are available for any size drain to prevent items larger than a grain of sand going into your pipes. Clean the kitchen sink strainer any time something collects in it. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.
If the hose that leads to your kitchen sink has not been maintained or installed properly, you may notice that water is constantly draining to the dishwasher. The hose connecting the sink the the dishwasher should be at an uphill angle and then downhill to prevent the water from mixing.
To lower the chance that you will have issues with your toilet, do not approach it like it’s a trash can. Don’t put disposable sanitary objects down the toilet. The sewage system cannot deal with these items and will become clogged. Also, use as little toilet paper as possible to clean yourself properly.
Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes. The most highly recommended pipe cleaners are enzyme cleaners.
Lint Trap
Make sure to clean out the dryers lint trap. This will save a ton of trouble for you, it will also prevent 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.
Cold weather can cause expensive plumbing repairs if your pipes freeze. Normally, you will be able to prevent this issue. Make sure that any outdoor pipes are well insulated. With the onset of colder weather, disconnect and drain any hoses and shut off outside faucets. Be proactive about this and save on future repair bills.
Stay away from drain cleaners! Drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause your pipes to corrode if you overuse them. Consider hiring a professional when you have drain problems.
While you may not be able to choose which plumber is assigned to your job, you can still look the person up online. Check out your plumber’s website and read all of the reviews that are available.
Those valves will rarely get fully used but can fuse together. Taking the time to clean these valves may save you time and money in the future.
Consider drain cleaning products and their active ingredients carefully. Some have chemicals that are harmful, and may damage your pipes. Choose a brand that claims to be easy on pipes. Note that some of the chemicals that you use will kill helpful bacteria that is needed by your plumbing system so it can functions properly. These chemicals can be harmful to people in your household, as well.
If your washing machine’s drain stack overflows, you should try to snake it with a typical pipe snake. This can be caused by things that go through your wash and eventually build up in your pipes.
Chemical Drain
When trying to unclog drains, never use any chemical drain openers. No matter how effective they are at unclogging drains, the contents of such products can be very dangerous, especially if your skin is inadvertently exposed to them. If you must use a chemical drain opener, wear a long sleeved shirt and rubber gloves.
As indicated by this article, there are many ways to maintain and repair your plumbing system. If you use the tips you’ve read here, you’ll be able to solve any emergency and even install your own plumbing for new fixtures without the aid of a professional!
