Once you own a home, you can expect problems to arise with your plumbing sooner or later. These problems typically occur in bathrooms and kitchens. In reality, at some point each homeowner deals with a plumbing problem at some point. This article offers sound advice for dealing with a wide variety of plumbing problems when they occur.
Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped out in five year intervals. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. The cost to have your tank pumped might be a little steep, but it sure beats the alternative of dealing with sewage in your home or on your property.
You should clean your septic tank every five years! This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to be a backup in your home. It will cost some to have the septic tank pumped, but it would cost much more to have it cleaned, repaired or replaced due to sewage back up.
Don’t pay a plumber midway through the job. You may have to put money down before they start working, but avoid paying the total amount until it’s done. It will make you feel better knowing that your problem has been solved before parting with a large sum of money.
If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. You could repeat this process again if the water in the toilet bowl gets low.
If something is wrong with the disposal in your sink, avoid the temptation to stick your hand in there to fix it. Garbage disposals pose a serious risk, even when flipped off. Research your disposal online to locate a detailed diagram or troubleshooting guide for your model.
Odor removers such as bleach toilets are not good for your plumbing system. They can clean the bowl and remove odors, but they also damage the soft plastic and rubber parts in and around your toilet.
Make sure all the work on your plumbing is scheduled at one time. 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. It can also save money since most plumbers will charge you by the hour. Coming out just once will cut down on the time it takes, making your bill smaller.
Efficient Shower
Install low flush toilets and energy efficient shower heads and faucets to reduce your utility bills. Hot water usage is mostly in the shower. Invest in an energy-efficient shower head and you could save a hundred dollar every year on your water bill.
Never use your bare hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals always pose a possible threat, even when powered off or non-working all together. Use the Internet to find a diagram of your device, or a troubleshooter.
Don’t throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. Don’t flush massive amounts of toilet paper at once, either. Most of the time, you shouldn’t need a lot of toilet paper to clean yourself; don’t use more than necessary. If you have an emergency that requires a lot of cleaning, flush toilet paper a little bit at a time instead of all at once.
Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Some people think they can get away with the cheapest version at the store. The problem with this is that they are not very sturdy and can break much easier.
There’s no reason to run water while running your garbage disposal. While many people think that running water in conjunction with the disposal will cause it to work more efficiently, it simply isn’t true. In point of fact, sending water and garbage through the disposal together can shorten its lifespan by encouraging more waste to stick to the moving parts.
If you notice orange or pink stains in your bathroom fixtures, this is because of the iron in your water. You can use water softener that you buy at the store to remedy this situation, or you can have a professional do it for you.
If you need a good plumber, make sure you check out their reviews. Some plumbers are not trained to take on certain tasks, and can end up making your problem much worse. Check out online reviews of various plumbing companies, or get recommendations from friends and family.
Always check for leaks in and around your toilets. Check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank of each toilet. Watch the bowl, and if you see colored water within a few seconds, you know that you have a problem that needs to be handled soon.
Calling a plumber for every issue will add up to a huge bill, so it’s important to deal with small plumbing issues yourself as they arise. All homeowners should have some basic plumbing tools, they should also be aware of a few plumbing tips. When the time comes for you to deal with a plumbing problem, hopefully, the advice from this article will see you through it.
Keep the garbage disposal clean to make sure it will last as many years as your house does. Create a routine that uses both normal soaps and natural materials like cherry pits of lemon rinds. With this, you’ll be able to keep your garbage disposal running and smelling like new.