Any homeowner who does not happen to be a professional plumber, will eventually be dealt a headache or two by some plumbing problem in their house. Professional plumbers charge a premium amount and require a long waiting period; most plumbing issues are easy fixes that even an amateur can do. Read this article to learn the best ways to fix plumbing problems.
If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Anchor any easily-accessible loose pipes. If these pipes are located in the floors, ceiling or walls, you are probably best calling a profession plumber to take over the project.
In order to prevent any pipes within your home from freezing, you should never let the home temperature get below freezing. Always insulate pipes exposed to elements. If the ambient temperature around the pipes is below freezing, the pipes can freeze. It will take a while for the pipes to thaw, leaving you without running water. On the other hand, they can burst, which gets messy and really expensive.
To keep your septic tank in good working order, it is advisable to have it pumped out every five years. This will prevent sediment from piling up in your tank, which could cause it to overflow into your home and yard, or even cause the entire septic system to fail. While you may find it costly to get your septic tank cleaned out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.
If the water in your toilet is low along with the toilet being clogged, pour some extra water in the bowl to make the plunger effective again. This procedure can be repeated if the water level again returns to a level that is too low.
If your garbage disposal stops working, never try to fix it by reaching down with your hands. Even while turned off, the garbage disposal is still a dangerous place for your fingers. 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.
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. This will save you a lot of trouble and money if you find the issue before something horrible happens.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. After about 10 minutes you can flush the pipes out with boiling water. This simple solution can break up clogs caused by everything from hair to soap scum.
Clean your dryer's lint trap. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Make sure that you inspect the lint trap for any holes or tears that might mean lint is going to your pipes, which might lead to clogs and other problems to deal with.
If you don't want to spend a lot on repairing plumbing problems, learn to prevent problems before they occur. Drain clogs can be expensive and are actually a major repair, one of the most common ones, too. Drains are frequently clogged by hair. Put drain covers over your bathtub and sink drains to keep loose hair from going down the drain or into your pipes. Cleaning hair from the screen is a much easier affair than it would be to get the hair out of the pipe.
Frozen contact us can cause you to incur expensive plumbing repair bills. Fortunately, it's usually an avoidable problem. Start by insulating the outside pipes fully. Before the cold season arrives, you should disconnect your hoses, drain them and store them. Outdoor faucets should be shut off, too. This will keep you from paying too much to your plumber.
Don't run the water while putting food through your garbage disposal. Water does nothing to make the garbage disposal work more efficiently, even though many people seem to think that it makes the process smoother. The truth is that water could make garbage stick to the disposal, which might create a problem later.
Don't use drain cleaners constantly. The chemicals found in drain cleaners are very corrosive, and can end up damaging your pipes if you use them too much. Rather, if you have a blocked drain, consider having a professional plumber come out to diagnose the cause.
Sometimes, you will be forced to use a certain plumber, but that doesn't mean that looking him up on Angie's List or a similar site isn't a good idea. If your insurer has just given you the name of a plumber, see if they have a website, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.
If you have a need for a plumber, check the references of the person or company before hiring them. Hiring a plumber who is not experienced enough for your problem could make the situation worse. Always look at reviews on plumbers, or ask your family or friends if they know of one.
When it gets cold out, ensure that your faucets outside aren't dripping or leaking. If water is continually dripping, you need to make some repairs on your own before the temperature drops below freezing. If your pipes freeze, no matter what they are made of, water pressure may make them crack. Even a hairline crack can make enough water leak to cause a major flood in your home.
As you can see, plumbing problems don't have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you've learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!