When you have to do your own plumbing jobs, you might wonder where to start, equipment, what equipment to buy and what rules to follow. The tips in this article can provide you with what information you need to know to become a skilled plumber.
If a water pipe freezes, turn on the nearest faucet so the water has an escape route when the pipe starts to thaw. This relieves the pressure contained in the pipe as it also prevents it from bursting, and keeps it from bursting.
Garbage Disposal
Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Never put your bare hands to try fixing your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even an un-powered garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous. You can look online to find the diagram for your garbage disposal.
Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from getting through. The bathtub’s strainers need to cleaned out as needed.
Pour equal parts baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain once a month. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction to occur. Wait a while, and then pour boiling water down the drain. This process should open up clogs caused by everything from hair build-up and soap scum.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets in your toilet. Either kind of toilet tablet might break down obnoxious smells in your toilet, but they might also break down the rubber parts, resulting in malfunction.
Overflow Holes
Check the overflow holes are not clogged up. Clear the overflow holes when doing your periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
If water is draining into a dishwasher, you may notice that water is constantly draining to the dishwasher. The hose connecting the kitchen sink to your dishwasher needs to go up and then down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.
If your home has well water and you start seeing orange or pink stains, that is from iron in your water supply. This is fixed by using water softener, which can be bought at a store, or you can have someone come to your home and fix it.
Don’t flush items like paper towels, such as diapers, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.
Some people think they can get the cheapest version at the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that they are not highly durable and can break much easier.
The key towards maintaining low plumbing bills is prevention. One of the most common repairs is clogs. Drains easily clogged by hair.It’s a lot easier to take hair that is on a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.
It is important to always run cold water while using your garbage disposal. The blades on the unit will remain sharper and disposal will proceed with few glitches. Avoid using hot water, as this will liquefy grease, causing it to build up in the drain and obstruct your pipes.
Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues due to sediment build up.Take the aerator off, pull it apart, and brush it clean with a little vinegar.
Do not attempt to remove grout out of a line by yourself.You can break the blockage which will open up the line. This works better when you have plastic than metal pipes.
Don’t bother running water while putting food through your garbage disposal.In point of fact, it could actually cause garbage or waste to stick to the insides of the disposal and do more damage than good.
Install low flush toilets and energy efficient shower heads and faucets to reduce your utility bills. Most hot water is consumed in our showers. You can save up to a few hundred dollars a year by simply installing shower heads that are energy efficient.
As you’ve seen, plumbing is not that complicated. You will just need to take care of your basics prior to starting. All that is needed to start is common sense, effort and research to determine the most efficient way of handling your particular job.