TIP! If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. This will relieve pressure and might prevent the pipe from bursting, preventing further damage.
Learning about plumbing can be very overwhelming, but just like anything else, it can also be very easily researched, taught, and learned. Some plumbing problems will be too complex for you to fix yourself, so call a plumber to avoid doing permanent damage.
TIP! Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets in your toilet. While these tablets may be an easy way to clean your toilet and hide odors, they also contain chemicals that can break down the rubber fixtures in your toilet.
If your water pipe freezes, switch on the nearest faucet tap to that pipe so that water can exit when the pipe thaws. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Septic Tank
TIP! 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. A water softener will take care of the issue.
Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. There is a cost to having a company pump out your septic tank. But, a serious backup can cost a lot more if it mean replacing the tank.
TIP! If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. You might be tempted to have a plumber come out for every little thing that happens, but kicking the can on some issues until you have a list means you can save a few bucks.
If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. If the water goes down to a lower level again, then you should repeat the procedure.
TIP! A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Cover with a rag or plug, as a chemical reaction will occur in the pipes.
If your home has well water and you start seeing orange or pink stains, that is from iron in your water supply. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.
TIP! An expensive plumbing issue to pay for repairs is when your pipes freeze. Fortunately, it is usually relatively easy to prevent your pipes from freezing.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. Most plumbers have an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.
TIP! Don’t run the water while putting food through your garbage disposal. It is assumed that food will go down more smoothly if the water is running, though in reality that does nothing good.
To lessen the chances of toilet problems, do not use as a place to put trash. Don’t flush paper towels, diapers, cotton balls, tissues or any other materials besides toilet paper. These items don’t dissolve and can cause clogs. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.
TIP! Investigate the history of a plumber before hiring them. Some of the plumbers out there can not do every job, and they may end up causing you more problems than you started with.
Get a good quality replacement shower head. Choosing the cheapest shower head in the store can end up costing you more in the long run. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.
TIP! If sewage is backed up in your toilet, it’s most likely the result of a sever blockage of the branch line that connects the sewage line and main line. A professional can help if you can’t clear the problem yourself.
Keeping up with maintenance is the number one way to keep plumbers from having to come fix issues. Drain clogs are a common plumbing expense. Clogs in drains are often caused by buildups of hair. There are ways around this; you can use a drain cover or screen which is actually designed in order to keep your pipes and drain free of hair. Getting the hair off the screen is much simpler than removing it from the pipe.
TIP! Before it gets cold, you want to make certain your outside faucets aren’t dripping or leaking. If they are, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing.
It doesn’t have to be as hard as you may think. Just as with any topic, plumbing has a wide variety of facts associated with it. With the right information, you can tackle some of the most common home plumbing problems. With any luck, the tips above should get you on the right path.