Water is important to all life forms, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. There is not much else short of catastrophe that is going to cause as much damage to a home as plumbing issues. Luckily, people who own homes can do many things to prevent major plumbing problems and to control the damage that does happen.
If your water pipe freezes, switch on the nearest faucet tap to that pipe so that water can exit when the pipe thaws. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
Garbage Disposal
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Garbage disposals are not healthy places for hands to be, even if they are not running. You can search online to get schematics or troubleshooting advice for your garbage disposal.
You should make sure not to put oils down the drain, such as grease and fat. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. This is especially damaging to garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades turn more slowly and less efficiently. Don’t put oils down the sink.
Your septic tank should be pumped out at least once every five years if you want it to stay in optimum working order. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. There is a cost to having a company pump out your septic tank. But, a serious backup can cost a lot more if it mean replacing the tank.
By installing water-conserving shower heads in your bathrooms, you can save money on your monthly water bill. Most households use a lot of hot water in the shower. Install energy saving faucets throughout your home and you can recapture your cost within the year.
Don’t use your toilet as a trash can in order to avoid problems. Never flush paper towels, tissue, diapers, or tampons. These things do not break up correctly and can clog your pipes. Use the least amount of toilet paper that you can; use just as much as necessary to properly clean yourself.
When it is time to replace your shower head, you should consider paying a little more for a better one. Avoid the temptation to purchase an inferior quality head for your shower. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and easily break.
The areas of floor around your toilets are particularly susceptible to water damage; here’s how you can check them. An easy way to test for floor softness is by straddling the toilet and shifting your weight. If the floor feels soft when you do this, you have floor damage. You can save a lot if you catch these issue sooner.
Lint Trap
Be sure that the dryer’s lint trap is clean. This will save you trouble, such as preventing fires. Regularly check your dryer’s lint trap to see if it has any tears or holes that could potentially damage your dryer, and clog up your plumbing.
Trying to clean grout caught in a line by yourself is fruitless. The grout can be broken up and sent further down. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. However, you may never be fully rid of the grout without the assistance of a professional.
Don’t put fat, grease and other oils into the drain. When these oils cool, they become hard and create clogs. This can make your garbage disposal run slower. Get rid of any fat or oils outside or in the garbage can.
Garbage Disposal
You do not have to turn the water on when you are putting things in the garbage disposal. Water will not make your garbage disposal run smoothly. Running water can help clear debris and keep the disposal’s temperature down, but it can also cause sticky materials to clog the disposal.
If you require the services of a plumber, be sure to check them out prior to hiring them. Some plumbers don’t have the necessary skills or do not have the experience to take on certain jobs, and that could make your situation much worse. Always check the reviews on plumbers, and ask those you trust if they have any recommendations.
A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Let that sit for a while, and then run boiling hot water down it. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Being educated and prepared will help you to avoid plumbing issues. By learning more about plumbing, a homeowner can make the right decisions and reduce the chance of plumbing problems. Also, homeowners who dig up information about a problem beforehand are much more likely to solve the problem faster and easier.