Everyone knows that countless things can go awry when dealing with plumbing. While some needed repairs may be easy to remedy, others are not so much. Regardless of the difficulty, a good amount of plumbing knowledge is needed to ensure that repairs are done correctly and efficiently.
If your pipes are so noisy that they sound like squeaking or hammering, you can easily solve this problem. Anchor any pipes that are exposed. You may need the assistance of a professional in the case that the pipes are contained within a floor or ceiling.
You don’t want to end up with frozen pipes, so take preventive action, such as wrapping outside pipes with insulation, and keeping indoor temperatures above freezing at all times. Obviously, if it is below freezing outdoors, the pipes will be subjected to the same temperatures. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. In the worst case, the pipes would burst, and you would be stuck with costly repairs and a very messy cleanup procedure.
Total Bill
Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished the job. Sometimes plumbers will request a cash deposit before any work can commence; however, you avoid paying the total bill until the whole job has been finished to your satisfaction. It is good to know that the plumber did everything as promised before he gets his money.
Avoid the use of products for your toilet that help with odor, such as bleach tablets. These things may help improve smells, but they can damage the rubber components of a toiler, which can cause it to function improperly or even worse, completely break down.
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). After the water level in the toilet bowl has gone down, you can repeat the procedure until the blockage is cleared.
Never use your bare hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Even if the disposal is turned off, it can still be hazardous. Go online and search for sketch of your disposal, or a troubleshooter.
You should put a strainer over your drains to catch anything that could clog your drain up. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.
Garbage Disposal
Clean your garbage disposal regularly to prolong the life of your disposal. By incorporating a regular cleaning routine, your garbage disposal can stay running smoothly. One way to clean your disposal is to run dish detergent and lemon rinds through your garbage disposal. As an added benefit, this technique will also eliminate any scents from your disposal.
You can pour baking soda down a drain followed by some vinegar if you want to keep drains clear. This should be done once a month, and a cup each of baking soda and vinegar should be used. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. Flush it with boiling water after a few minutes. Doing this will help rid your pipes of disgusting soap scum and blockages.
You can save a lot of money in your energy bills by putting in efficient shower heads. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home. Installing the energy-efficient heads, you will be able to save in excess of $100 per year.
Lint Trap
Be sure to clean your dryer’s lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. You also need to be sure the lint trap is free of holes or small openings that could allow lint to get to your pipes. This could result in other problems in your home to deal with.
Like this article said, there are a lot of things that can happen to your plumbing. These issues can be small, or they can be big. Use the tips in the article above to deal with plumbing issues with less stress and confusion.
