Knowing what you are doing is essential if you plan on undertaking any plumbing projects in your home. Serious plumbing disasters can be extremely damaging to any home. Luckily, homeowners have a lot of ways to avoid plumbing issues and ways to minimize the effects of those issues when they happen.
If you have noisy pipes that sound like hammering or squeaking, this is something that is easy to fix. Anchor any easily-accessible loose pipes. For pipes that are situated inside walls, or the floor or ceiling, you should hire a professional.
If you have a water pipe that freezes, have the tap closest to it turned on so the water can exit while the pipe thaws. If there is too much pressure within the pipe, it may burst, causing other forms of damage in the home.
Keep your bathtub drain running well by pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain each month. Afterward, place a washcloth or towel over the top of the drain, to keep the chemical reactions contained. After about 10 minutes you can flush the pipes out with boiling water. By following this tip, you should be able to clear all the soap scum, hair, and other grime out of your pipes.
Lint Trap
Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Also, check the lint trap to see if there are telltale signs that lint may be leaking into your pipes through holes and tears.
To reduce your plumbing repair costs, use preventative maintenance measures. Clogged drains are a major problem that often requires professional help. Clogs in drains are often caused by buildups of hair. You can prevent this from occurring by using a drain cover or a screen that is meant to keep the hair out of the drain and pipes. Make sure you clean the hair from the screen regularly. This should be much easier than cleaning a drain.
When water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive and costly. Fortunately, frozen pipes are easy to prevent. If you have any pipes outside, have them properly insulated. When wintertime comes, disconnect and drain your hoses and shut off outside faucets. Be proactive about this and save on future repair bills.
When you have to take out the clean out plug, but it is not coming out, you can remove it using one of two ways. You can loosen the fitting around the plug using a hammer and chisel. If that fails, you will have to cut completely through the plug.
If you find yourself needing a plumber, don’t hire one until you have checked out his or her credentials. Some plumbers don’t have the necessary skills or do not have the experience to take on certain jobs, and that could make your situation much worse. Check the reviews on any plumber you are considering, and ask friends and family for the name of a plumber that they use and trust.
If valves are seldom used they may become fused. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and turn them every so often to keep them from sticking.
Before hiring a plumber, check their credentials against the local licensing agency or municipal authority. By doing this you can see if they have any problems with their license and heck on reviews about the quality of their work. Only hire contractors with a current, active license. It is a very bad idea to get involved with any contractor that does not maintain a current license.
It is important to know where your cut-off valve is for the water on your property. You can locate a water meter close to it. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures could have their own valves that cut off. Show every family member where the valves are, and add markings showing how to turn them off in case of emergency.
A lot of people do not know what to do about their plumbing issues so they pay a plumber big bucks! As a homeowner, you need to have some understanding of basic plumbing to prevent getting overcharged. This will make sure that you aren’t ripped off.
People are often hesitant to begin home plumbing jobs because they feel they could end up making the situation much worse. There is one simple thing you need to know to save your home in case of a serious plumbing emergency. To save your house from water damage, you must know how to locate and shut off the water register quickly.
Being properly informed and ready for any situation makes it much easier to avoid problems with plumbing. Knowing the basics of maintaining good plumbing can help a homeowner to make sound decisions. A homeowner that researches plumbing and knows what they’re doing before a problem happens will be better off if there is a problem.