Plumbing Like A Pro: Tips, Tricks, And Techniques

 

 

When you buy a new home, it's likely that some sort of plumbing problem will exist. The majority of the time, these problems will be in the kitchen or bathroom. Really, at some point every homeowner will deal with some kind of plumbing problem. Make note of the following advice in order to prepare yourself for future plumbing problems.

 

 

If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. This helps decrease any pressure in order to prevent burst pipes. A burst pipe can create damage that is expensive to repair.

 

If you have noisy pipes, you can cushion them with a rubber blanket or add additional anchor straps. Banging pipes are usually caused by loose pipes, water hammering to a stop as you turn it off, or hot water pipes shifting in their position. All of these problems can be solved by cushioning and anchoring the pipes.

 

Get the appropriate tools, and know exactly how to use them before you start working on your plumbing. Use manuals and online sites to get informed before doing a plumbing project yourself. Have a good grasp of what you're attempting to do before you do it, so you don't have to repair your repair.

 

If you have a clogged drain, don't use cleaning chemicals to try to clear the clog. These harsh chemicals can corrode your metal pipes leading to leaks and broken pipes over time. Instead, stick to a plunger or make use of a plumbing snake to clear them.

 

Making sure you know all of your problems so you can have them fixed by one plumber visit is very beneficial. Having them all fixed in one visit takes a lot of money off of your bill because you don't have to pay for the visit multiple times so make sure you make a list first.

 

Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. Sit on your toilet and sway across both feet to feel if there are any spots less firm than the others. Picking up on any problems now will definitely work to save you money later. It's the difference in a little maintenance and total floor replacement.

 

Never put fat, grease, or oils into your drain. When they cool, they'll harden and clog your drain. This can make your garbage disposal run slower. Pour the grease and oil into a can to cool, put it in the trash.

 

Everyone in your home should know where the main water shut off valve is. By knowing where to find this valve, you'll be able to shut off the water in the event a pipe bursts, a bathtub or toilet overflows or any other emergency that requires you to turn off the water.

 

Frozen pipes can lead to many problems, most of them expensive to fix. So you want to avoid that at all costs. To avoid frozen pipes, make sure the temperature in your home never drops below 55 degrees. Look for any air leaks around your pipes and make sure they're sealed up.

 

If you are trying to decide on the material to use for your hose, stick with stainless steel. Stainless steel has a very solid construction and stays durable for many years, eliminating the need for replacement. Also, this material is less prone to bursting, which can yield severe plumbing issues.

 

Make sure that any exposed pipes in your home are insulated, especially those found in crawl spaces on the outside walls of your home. This will help keep them from freezing and causing you tons of problems. Frozen pipes can often be devastating and leave you with problems that are expensive to fix and no water in the middle of winter.

 

If you have a foul odor coming from your garbage disposal, this is due to food debris buildup. You need to put ice cubes, orange peels, and lemon peels into the disposal and run for about 30 seconds. Next, run some liquid dish soap through the disposal. This should take care of the problem if there is not a substantial blocking buildup.

 

Do a routine check around your house each month on each and every faucet to make sure there are no signs of leaks or drips. Over time, leaks can add a lot of money to your water bill and will worsen if you do not take care of the problem.

 

Plumbing should only be done by professionals if there is a major problem or if you do not understand plumbing. Many of the big problems that plumbers deal with, actually have simple solutions. The average person, who does not understand the intricacies of plumbing, usually end up compounding the problem by causing other costly damage to the house during the failed repair. The plumber will need to be called in the end, anyway.

 

Being unprepared for a plumbing problem can really make an already bad situation worse. Every homeowner should arm themselves with a few basic plumbing tools and repair tips. The tips you have found above should go a long way towards preparing you to deal with a plumbing problem when it occurs.