Everyone knows that countless things can go awry when dealing with plumbing. Some plumbing issues are very easy to repair, while others can become quite a bit more difficult. Regardless of the difficulty, a good amount of plumbing knowledge is needed to ensure that repairs are done correctly and efficiently.
Your septic tank should be pumped out at least once every five years if you want it to stay in optimum working order. Doing this prevents any sediment from getting built up within the tank, which causes a backup in your home or causes your entire septic system to fail. 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 reach into a garbage disposal that you think isn’t working. Even if it is are switched off, a garbage disposal can be very dangerous. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
A strainer should be placed over all the drains in order to gather particles that would just get in the drain and potentially cause stoppage. You should clean your strainer in your kitchen anytime you have anything in it. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.
Overflow Holes
You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. Overflow holes drain sink that fill too full and may go unnoticed until they are needed. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.
Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. When cold water hits the garbage disposal, it sharpens the blades. This keeps the disposal working properly. If you use hot water, any grease that is in the disposal will turn to liquid, and sit inside of the drain, which can clog your pipes.
A sink with poor water pressure can often be corrected by cleaning the built-up sediment out of the aerator. Take the aerator off, disassemble it, and brush it clean with a little vinegar. Then you can simply rinse off the aerator and reassemble the faucet. Cleaning the aerator in this manner removes obstacles clogging it, which then allows it to regulate the water pressure properly.
You can use two different methods to remove clean out plugs. The first method you can try is using a chisel with a hammer to get the fitting loose. Unfortunately, if you still cannot remove the plug, the only viable option left on the table is to bust right through the plug completely with the hammer and chisel.
Sometimes you have no choice in what plumber you have scheduled, but you can still research them online. You’ll be more comfortable with the plumber if you read about other customers’ experiences with him.
Research potential plumbers before hiring one. Some plumbers are not experienced enough or skilled enough to handle some jobs, and they can worsen your problem. Ask around, and check online reviews. Your relatives and friends will likely know a plumber they will recommend.
Be sure to check that your faucets on the outside of your home are free of leaks as winter approaches. If there is any leaking or dripping, this needs to be fixed before the temperature falls below freezing. Regardless of what the pipes in your house are made out of, freezing water will cause them to crack. Even a hairline crack can make enough water leak to cause a major flood in your home.
Valves that get rarely used occasionally fuse together. You can prevent them from becoming fused by regularly maintaining them with a penetrating oil, and running water through them on a regular basis.
It is important to know where your cut-off valve is for the water on your property. There will be a water meter there or nearby. Usually toilets, sinks and other fixtures have cut-off valves of their own. Make sure every family member knows how to find these valves, and turn them off.
Plumbing is not limited to water. Many skills are needed to be a plumber with expertise. A common task for a plumber is repairing water lines.
Do not buy a strong chemical drain cleaner if you want to get rod of a clog. Even though these products may help to open up your drain, the chemicals in them can cause damage to your body, especially if they get on your skin. If you feel you must use them, protect your skin by wearing long sleeved shirts and gloves.
If you notice water dripping into the walls of your home, you should immediately turn off the water supply and contact a plumber. This type of leak is not something to play around with, as it can cause numerous serious problems. Many plumbing problems and leaks can contribute to mildew, mold or a flooded home.
Plumbing Fixtures
When looking for plumbing fixtures, give strong consideration to those made of brass. One main reason is that brass plumbing fixtures are incredibly durable. Brass is also more attractive to the eye than typical fixtures. You can find them at any home repair store.
The profession of plumbing is chalk full of amateurs, so if you’re a professional, you might want to consider bringing on an apprentice. This will not just give you an inexpensive helping hand, it will also allow you to show an interested person the ins and outs of plumbing.
Take breaks if you are doing repairs outside in the sun. Wrapped up in complicated work, you forget the danger of sun exposure over a long period of time.
If your pipes are made of copper, they might expand a little when hot water passes through them. When they expand and contract over a period of time, they will not fit properly in their hangers and can grind and wear against them causing damage. To keep this from happening, put some tape on the pipe before setting into the hanger.
Plumbing Problems
After reading this article, you know some of the different plumbing problems that you can encounter whether large or small. Use these tips and you will discover that it is not necessary to stress over plumbing problems. There is always a solution.