Tips And Tricks On Maintaining Healthy Plumbing In Your Home

Everyone has questions about plumbing at one time or another. This article has tips to prepare you for all kinds of plumbing issues or emergencies.

TIP! Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it working well. This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to be a backup in your home.

To prevent pipes from freezing, don’t let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, even if the house is vacant. Your plumbing can freeze if the air around it is below freezing. It may take time in order for the pipes to thaw so that you can have running water. The other option is the pipes may burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.

Don’t use any colored tablets in your toilet.These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.

TIP! Do not put any oil, fat, or greasy foods or products in your sink. Oils will eventually harden and clog up your drain.

If you have a clogged toiled with a lower water lever, and the plunger isn’t working, it’s possible to resolve this by pouring warm water from a bucket directly into the toilet bowl from about waist level. Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water goes back to a lower level.

Garbage Disposal

TIP! Each month, treat your drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down it, and then follow that with a cup of regular white vinegar. Use a plug or rag to cover the drain, because there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes.

Never put your bare hands in your garbage disposal to fix a problem. Even when the garbage disposal presents significant danger.You can search online to get schematics or troubleshooting advice for the disposal that you have.

TIP! Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. Overflow holes drain water if a sink begins to overfill, so they need to be clear at all times.

Schedule your plumbing work at one time. You may be tempted to call a professional plumber if you have any minor issues, but kicking the can on some issues until you have a list means you can save a few bucks. Most plumbers charge 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! When running your garbage disposal, always use a lot of cold water. The helps sharpen the blades and clears out the drain mechanism.

Pour equal parts baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain every month. Plug up the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction to occur. Wait a while, then flush the pipes by pouring in a kettle full of boiling water. Doing this periodically should keep your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.

TIP! If you don’t want to spend a lot on repairing plumbing problems, learn to prevent problems before they occur. Drain clogs are a common plumbing issue and sometimes expensive to repair when they are not addressed promptly.

You can drastically reduce your utility bills with efficient shower heads designed for better efficiency. Most of the hot water in our showers. If you use energy efficient heads for your showers, you can realize savings of approximately $100 each year for each shower head.

Don’t flush items like paper towels, such as diapers, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls.

TIP! Clean the aerator to if you are dealing with low water pressure issues due to sediment buildup. First, you should remove and disassemble the aerator.

Some people think they can get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not very sturdy and easily break.

TIP! Always thoroughly check out plumbers before you decide to use their services. Some plumbers do not have the experience to deal with certain problems, and may make matters worse.

Use a cleaner that is enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria to turn the sludge into a liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your first choice.

Lint Trap

TIP! Take advantage of the information that you can obtain from the department or division of your state government that handles consumer affairs and protection when you are thinking of hiring a plumbing contractor. You can look at their track record, looking to see whether their license is valid and if they have any complaints lodged against them.

Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap is clean. This will help your dryer to work better and prevents fires. Be sure you inspect your lint trap for tears or holes that could mean lint is going into your pipes, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.

TIP! Everyone in your family should know exactly where your home’s main water shut off valve is and how to use it. There will be a water meter there or nearby.

Prevention is the key to keeping your plumbing bills down. Clogs present one of the top reasons for needing a plumber. Drains are easily get clogged by hair. It’s a lot easier to take hair that is on a screen than eliminating it off a pipe.

TIP! Figure out the size of the water tank you need, this will help you save some money on energy bills. Being aware of how many people in your house use hot water, and how many of your appliances will need hot water to work, will help you know the size that your hot water tank should be.

Frozen pipes are on of the most expensive plumbing repair jobs. The first thing to do is ensure your outside pipes are well insulated. Before winter hits, drain your hoses and disconnect your outdoor faucets. This will help to save some serious money on pipe repairs over time.

TIP! If the drain on your washer overflows, use a pipe snake to try to clear the clog. Your washing machine can back up if small things get caught in the pipe, like lint.

Do not attempt to remove grout out of a line by yourself.You can try to break up the grout to send it down further. This works better with plastic pipes as opposed to metal ones.

TIP! Some homeowners put in flood lights with their plumbing system. A flood alarm works in much the same way as a smoke alarm, only they’re placed at floor level.

You might not be able to control which plumber you have to use, but you should still research different plumbers online. If your insurer has just given you the name of a plumber, you could always check out the website and the reviews and feedback left by customers, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.

TIP! If you buy your own equipment for plumbing, you’ll spend less than you would on a plumber over time. It is not difficult to locate videos online that provide step-by-step instructions for making plumbing repairs.

Learning about these problems can save a lot of headache down the road. If you keep an eye on your plumbing system regularly, you’ll notice issues before they become major concerns. Take care of all of your plumbing needs with the help of this article.

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