Water is important to all life forms, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. Next to a natural disaster, the one thing that can ruin your home is a major plumbing issue. As a homeowner, you can take some preventive steps to make sure you are not affected by serious plumbing issues.
Don’t let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. Obviously, if it is below freezing outdoors, the pipes will be subjected to the same temperatures. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. They could also burst costing you a lot of money and repairs.
To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. Obviously, frozen pipes occur due to freezing environmental conditions. It could take some time in order for the pipes to thaw out so that you can have running water. In the worst case, the pipes would burst, and you would be stuck with costly repairs and a very messy cleanup procedure.
Septic Tank
Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda, one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. Plug the drain afterwards or cover it with a washcloth, as the two chemicals are going to react with each other. Wait for a little while and then allow boiling water to go down the drain. This process should open up the pipes by clearing out hair build-up and soap scum.
If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Make sure you read all the directions and manuals, while also taking advantage of online resources and the library to help you with your projects. Make sure that, before you jump in and start taking things apart, you plan your plumbing repair first.
Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. You may not even notice the overflow holes on your sink, but if you have a major water leak you will soon regret your apathy. Clean overflow holes as part of your annual maintenance, and any other time you are handling general plumbing repairs.
You can avoid plumbing issues if you know what to do and have the tools at hand to work with. The homeowner who learns a little bit about plumbing is more likely to make wise decisions and avoid dangerous plumbing situations. It is best for one to do one’s research and try fixing one’s plumbing issues before things get worse.