After you move into a new house, you’ll likely see some sort of plumbing problem arise. The majority of the time, these problems will be in the kitchen or bathroom. Plumbing issues can be extremely expensive, especially if they are not handled immediately. Continue on for some helpful tips so you can take care of these problems if they happen.
You can easily fix noisy pipes. If pipes are exposed, you must anchor them. Get a professional to anchor any hidden pipes if you do not wish to do some work in your floors or walls by yourself.
You never want to pay for a job until it is complete, and this goes for a plumber as well. A plumber might ask you for part of the money before starting the job but you should never pay more than half. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.
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 can relieve the pipe pressure that could cause bursting and further home damage.
You never want to pay for a job until it is complete, and this goes for a plumber as well. A plumber might ask you for part of the money before starting the job but you should never pay more than half. It is good to know that the plumber did everything as promised before he gets his money.
Save Money
If you want your garbage disposal to have the same lifespan as your total home, clean it regularly. By regularly using a mixture of dish soap, cherry pits and citrus rinds, you can ensure that your disposal runs smoothly and smells as fresh as one that is brand new.
You should regularly check for water damage to your bathroom floor caused by your toilet in order to save money and further complications. Feel the floor around the toilet and check to see if the floor is soft, molded, chipping, etc. Another great way to check is to actually sit on the toilet and move in a rocking motion, going back and forth from right to left to see how much give you feel. You can save money by noticing and treating this problem as early as possible.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. Oils are especially damaging to garbage disposals. Don’t put oils down the sink.
Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. You may be tempted to call a professional plumber if you have any minor issues, but saving your plumbing issues for one time can let you put that money back into 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.
If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. Cold water will allow for the food particles to be properly disposed of while keeping the blades sharp. Avoid using hot water, as this will liquefy grease, causing it to build up in the drain and obstruct your pipes.
Always have cold water running when you are using your garbage disposal. The blades on the unit will remain sharper and disposal will proceed with few glitches. Grease will stay solid and go through your drain with cold water; you don’t want gooey grease in your pipes.
Efficient Shower Heads
To save a significant amount of cash on your energy bill, install energy-efficient shower heads in all of your showers. Most of your water bills comes from the water you use to shower. When you invest in energy-efficient shower heads, you will save around $100 a year for every shower head.
Don’t use your toilet as a trash can in order to avoid problems. Do not flush sanitary pads, paper towels, cotton balls, tissues, diapers or other materials, as these items do not dissolve and could cause clogs. Also, you want to use the least amount of toilet paper to clean yourself.
Keep from using harsh drain cleaners. Drain cleaners contain very corrosive chemicals that can cause damage to your pipes if used too much. If you discover that you have a blocked drain, the best course of action is to hire a professional to call by and examine it for you.
The clean out plug can sometimes be difficult to remove, and if you are having problems, there are two approaches to fixing this problem The first method you can try is using a chisel with a hammer to get the fitting loose. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.
If you need a plumber, check out his or her credentials first. A plumber that is not skilled in a particular task could actually aggravate the problem. Search for reviews of plumbers, or ask friends or family members to recommend a competent plumber.
Clean the aerator to adjust water pressure issues which result from sediment build up. Remove the aerator, and then take it apart so it can be cleaned with a brush that has been dipped in vinegar. Rinse it and put it back on the faucet. Clean the aerator, it might increase your water pressure.
As the winter months encroach on your home, check your outdoor faucets for dripping and leaking. If they are, you will need to make the necessary repairs before the freezing temperatures arrive. Freezing water can cause pressure to build up, causing your pipes to crack, or burst, regardless if your pipes are constructed with steel, plastic, or metal. Even a small crack can cause a lot of damages to your home.
When you have a problem with the plumbing, the worst thing to do is not be prepared. All homeowners should have some basic plumbing tools, they should also be aware of a few plumbing tips. The next time something goes wrong, you’ll be ready.