
Everyone has questions about plumbing at some point in time. Not only do people want information about fixing problems that might crop up, they also want general information about plumbing around the house. This article will help you with both repairs and maintenance, so that you are prepared to deal with any plumbing situation you may face.
To keep your pipes from getting frozen, always maintain a temperature in the house above freezing and make sure all pipes exposed to outside elements are insulated properly. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. The best case scenario is that you can heat the pipes and the water will start flowing again. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
Ensure that if something goes wrong in your garbage disposal that you resist any and all urges you have that might make you want to put your hands inside to fix a problem. A garbage disposal can be dangerous, even when it is not on. 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.
Check floors around toilets for softness, so you can tell if you have any floor damage. Straddle your toilet by rocking it from foot to foot to see if there’s any weakening or softness on the floor below you. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. Bathtubs should be equipped with strainers as well, and they too will need to be cleaned regularly.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. When they cool down, they get hard and that will cause clogs in your sink drains. Especially if you operate a garbage disposal, the fat causes blades to be less efficient. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.
Don’t wait until the problem is here to educate yourself. In addition, performing a small amount of routine maintenance could help stop any problems. Remember the tips in this article to be able to handle your plumbing at home.