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Often, the plumbing in a house starts malfunctioning soon after you move in. The most common places these problems pop up is in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Unfortunately, you should expect that plumbing issues can arise at any given time. Here are some helpful plumbing tips in case you find yourself in that situation, or any other situation where you will need to do some plumbing work.
Obnoxiously loud pipes that like to squeal and hammer are easy situations to correct. You must anchor all exposed pipes. You may need the assistance of a professional in the case that the pipes are contained within a floor or ceiling.
Water hammer problems, pipe noise due to water hitting the back of the pipe, can be easily repaired. You simply have to securely fasten any pipes that are exposed. Pipes that are contained within the floors, walls and ceilings may need to be attended by a professional plumber.
When it gets very cold, your pipes may freeze. If it does, relieve the pressure in the pipe by turning on the tap so the water can be released as the pipe thaws. This will help relieve pressure in pipes to prevent them from bursting, which may prevent bigger damage for your home.
Odor removers such as bleach toilets are not good for your plumbing system. These products may well remove odors, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Clean your kitchen strainer often, particularly if you can see debris accumulating. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.
If your home has a well for water and there are pink or orange stains in the sinks and tubs, this could be due to high iron content in your water. You can deal with use by using a water softener, which is something you can get on your own at a local retailer, or by hiring a professional to come out.
Garbage Disposal
To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. Cleaning can be done with a variety of things you may already have in your home, such as dish-washing soap, the rinds of lemons, or the pits of cherries. When you create a regular cleaning schedule, you can make sure your garbage disposal runs in tip-top shape and smells fresh and like new.
Try to have all your plumbing repairs done at once. Do not call a plumber for minor issues. You can save money by waiting to have everything fixed at the same time. This can save you money since plumbers generally charge hourly, as they can’t charge multiple hours per trip if it’s only one trip out.
Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup’s worth of baking soda and than a cup’s worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. This will cause a chemical reaction to occur and you should plug the drain. After a few minutes,just flush the drain out with water that has reached a boiling point. By following this tip, you should be able to clear all the soap scum, hair, and other grime out of your pipes.
When plumbing issues come up, you need to be prepared. Every homeowner should be equipped with the most simple plumbing tools and tips. Avoid a huge plumbing issue by learning to handle the smaller issues as they occur.
