If you don’t know what you’re doing when it comes to plumbing, you might find the whole situation a big headache. Professional plumbers can have a wait time, and are very expensive for something that could usually be solved without too much trouble. Read more to see how you can fix some simple plumbing problems!
If your pipes are so noisy that they sound like squeaking or hammering, you can easily solve this problem. Exposed pipes will have to be anchored. Get a professional to anchor any hidden pipes if you do not wish to do some work in your floors or walls by yourself.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. Your plumbing can freeze if the air around it is below 32 degrees. If you are lucky, you will only experience a minor inconvenience until the pipes thaw. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.
Do not give a plumber the entire payment for a job until the whole job is completed. It is customary to put down one-third to one-half of the total cost before the work is started, but do not pay in full until it is complete. This ensures that the plumber fully completes the job before getting paid.
If you have a clogged toiled with a lower water lever, and the plunger isn’t working, try pouring in some warm water directly into the toilet. Once the water level is low again, you may repeated this procedure.
Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. Those in the bathtub should be cleaned out periodically, as needed.
If your home runs on well water and you notice any orange or pink stains in your fixtures or tub, this is because of iron in your water. You will need a water softener in order to take care of this problem, which you could purchase at a local store, or hire someone to go to your home and fix it for you.
Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. It might be tempting to hire a plumber for every little problem, but if you can save it up for one big fix, then you have time to set money aside for these repairs. It also costs less because most plumbers will charge you per hour and include a minimum rate for coming out. If you call them out multiple times, those charges for them coming out will add up quickly.
If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly. Hot water will liquefy grease and build up inside the drain, eventually causing clogs.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. Most households use a lot of hot water in the shower. When you install energy-efficient heads in each bathroom, you will save around 100 dollars or more per shower.
If you notice water draining into your dishwasher, check how the kitchen sink hoses are installed. This hose should lead uphill first and then downhill so the water from the sink and the dishwater never mix.
Remember that your toilet is not intended to be used to dispose of trash. Don’t flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn’t dissolve, as these can clog it. Don’t flush massive amounts of toilet paper at once, either. Most of the time, you shouldn’t need a lot of toilet paper to clean yourself; don’t use more than necessary. If you have an emergency that requires a lot of cleaning, flush toilet paper a little bit at a time instead of all at once.
Always clean the lint from your dryer. By doing this simple task, you can circumvent a great deal of trouble. including prevention of fires. Be certain that you thoroughly inspect the trap to ensure there are no tears or holes that may allow lint to travel to the pipes.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!