Everyone has plumbing questions, every now and then. It’s useful to be able to fix minor problems on our own, and it’s great to know some general tips about plumbing maintenance. These tips and hints will give you a little enlightenment on both ends of the spectrum, thus giving you the choice to proceed as you need with your plumbing demands.
If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Anchor any pipes that are exposed. For pipes that are situated inside walls, or the floor or ceiling, you should hire a professional.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. It could take some time in order for the pipes to thaw out so that you can have running water. On the other hand, they can burst, which gets messy and really expensive.
If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. By doing this, the pipe pressure is relieved, and this should stop it from bursting, which would prevent further home damage.
Septic Tank
Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. This will keep sediment from building and causing backup into the house, and possibly causing the septic system to fail. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it will cost a lot more having to clean sewage backup or having to fix or replace a septic tank.
Never put your hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even when in the off position, garbage disposals are dangerous. Use a guide or the Internet to locate a blueprint of your disposal, or a troubleshooting manual.
If you have well water and discover orange or pink discoloration on your bathtub or sink, you probably have iron in your water supply. This is something that needs to be taken care of by water softener, which you can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. Remove the aerator, and then take it apart so it can be cleaned with a brush that has been dipped in vinegar. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. Cleaning the aerator in this manner removes obstacles clogging it, which then allows it to regulate the water pressure properly.
There are two ways to remove stubborn clean-out plugs. One way is to make the fitting looser with a hammer and chisel. The only other option is to chisel right through the clean out plug.
No matter what plumber you use, you should know a little about him before he comes to the door. Even if your insurance company assigns a plumber to you, you can get online and learn his name and the quality of his work. Though your insurer may determine the plumbing company that will work on your house, you still have the ability to look them up, read customer reviews and prepare for their visit.
Ensure your toilet does not have any leaks. To check, squeeze a few food coloring drops in the toilet tank. Watch your toilet bowl closely, and if you notice colored water in a manner of seconds, you definitely have a leak that will need to be fixed.
If waste material comes up the wrong way into your toilet, you have something clogging the works below the street. If you are not able to remove the blockage, you need to contact a professional to snake the line clear.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is a great place to check if you need a plumbing contractor. These departments offer current information on licensing status and open complaints cases. If a plumber does not have a current license and even a limited number of complaints, you probably don’t want them working on your home.
Plumbing can be a nightmare, because it can cause a lot of damage to a home. However, there is one key thing you need to know for the fear to be removed. In order to prevent water damage to your home, you must know the location of the water register, and how you can quickly turn it off.
Drain Cleaners
Choose your pipe cleaners with care. There are some drain cleaners on the market that may damage your pipes. Always be sure to pick a brand that has been announced that it is gentle on pipes. Some drain cleaners can kill bacteria that is essential to your plumbing system and could even put your family in danger.
If you are starting to install a water heater and see a pipe going out from the drainage area, be sure to reconnect that pipe. It is usually a recirculation pipe. This pipe is essential to keeping your water nice and warm without wasting water, which will help keep your bills down.
Make sure you do educate yourself ahead of time before situations arise. Some routine maintenance can stop problems from starting, to begin with. Use this advice for any future plumbing needs.