There are so many things to consider when it comes to doing your own plumbing that it can often be hard to figure out where to start. You will be a better plumber if you use the information in this article.
If you have pipes that sound as if they’re squeaking or hammering, it’s an easy fix. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. If these pipes on the ceiling, or in the floors or walls, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you finish the project.
If your house uses well water and there are orange or pink stains in tubs or sinks, it’s because of the iron level in the water. 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.
Keep the garbage disposal clean to make sure it will last as many years as your house does. By utilizing a routine on a regular basis, using the combination of lemon rinds, cherry pits, and dish soap, you can maintain a disposal that runs great and smells like new.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. It might be tempting to call up a plumber every time you have a small problem, but if you will save all the plumbing issues for one time, it can be helpful. It will allow you save the money for the repairs. Another reason it lowers costs is that plumbers bill per hour worked, and due to partial hour effects, doing all the work at once results in lower billable hours.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. 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. Let that sit for a while, and then run boiling hot water down it. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Overflow Holes
Regularly check your overflow holes to make sure they’re not clogged. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. When checking for potential problems and repairs, you should also remove obstructions from the overflow holes.
Flush your drain with a constant stream of cold water when operating your drain mounted disposal unit. Cold water will allow for the food particles to be properly disposed of while keeping the blades sharp. If you use hot water it will liquefy the grease, allowing it to accumulate in your drain causing your pipes to clog.
As you obviously read in the paragraphs above, plumbing may actually be easier than you think! There are quite a few basics to understand though. Just focus and start somewhere, this is all it takes, when you do your research apply common sense into the mix and you should have no problem tackling an easy job.