Learn How To Do Your Own Basic Plumbing

TIP! If a pipe freezes, make sure you turn the closest faucet to allow the thawing water to exit. This reduces pressure to keep the pipe from bursting, which could prevent a big mess in your home.

When dealing with plumbing problems, it’s important that you’re taking care of things the right way. You should always seek out suggestions and advice when you need them. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find plenty of tips that will be useful in the future.

TIP! You should clean your septic tank every five years! Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. White it is somewhat expensive to pump the septic tank, it will be much more expensive should you need to clean backup, repair your septic tank or replace it altogether.

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. The pipes will be able to freeze if the temperature surrounding the pipes drops below freezing. It could take some time in order for the pipes to thaw out so that you can have running water. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.

TIP! Toilet discs and odor removers should never be used in your toilet. While they may be effective deodorizers, they can damage rubber parts in your toilet.

If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

TIP! Feel the floors around the toilets to see if they are soft; this will help you know if you have any damage. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth.

Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. Either kind of toilet tablet might break down obnoxious smells in your toilet, but they might also break down the rubber parts, resulting in malfunction.

Garbage Disposal

TIP! Iron will cause orange or pink stains in and on your fixtures if you have a well. Luckily, you can quickly fix this by adding some water softener to your supply.

If your garbage disposal is having problems, don’t give in to the desire to attempt a fix by reaching down into the disposal. Garbage disposals can be very dangerous, so take caution when fixing it, even while it’s turned off. Look for a diagram of the garbage disposal you have on the Internet.

TIP! Schedule one plumber to take care of all your issues in one single visit. It might be tempting to hire a plumber for every little problem, but if you can save it up for one big fix, then you have time to set money aside for these repairs.

Sifting drainers are available for any size drain to prevent items larger than a grain of sand going into your pipes. Clean debris from these strainers after each use. Bathtub strainers need regular cleaning as well.

TIP! 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.

Putting in shower heads that are energy-efficient can save you a lot of money in energy costs. The majority of hot water is consumed by showers. When you install an energy-efficient shower head, you will reduce your home’s water consumption, which means money left in your pocket.

TIP! A sink hose that is installed incorrectly will lead to water flowing into the dishwasher. This hose must lead uphill and downhill to prevent mixing water between the kitchen sink and the dishwasher.

Enzyme-based cleaners are the best bet for unclogging stubborn clogged pipes. These cleaners turn the sludge into a liquid using natural bacteria, and then the liquid flows out of the pipes. The best these days are the enzyme cleaners.

TIP! Taking preventative measures means you will not have to spend as much on plumbing repairs. A common serious repair is removing clogs in the drain.

Clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can prevent troubles, including fires. Be sure to inspect the lint screen for any tears or holes. That could result in lint traveling down your pipes, and that may result in clogs and other issues that have to be dealt with.

TIP! Cleaning an aerator can remove sediment buildup that causes low water pressure. Remove the aerator, and then take it apart so it can be cleaned with a brush that has been dipped in vinegar.

Prevention is vital for avoiding costly repairs to your plumbing. One of the major repairs is clogs. Drains are frequently clogged by hair. Stop the clog by covering your drains with screens to keep hair from going into the pipes. Getting the hair off the screen is much simpler than removing it from the pipe.

TIP! The clean out plug can sometimes be difficult to remove, and if you are having problems, there are two approaches to fixing this problem The first method involves a hammer and chisel to loosen the fitting. Your only other choice is chiseling directly through the actual plug itself.

If you’re ready to conquer plumbing issues, keep these tips in mind. It’s great to save cash by making your own repairs, but when you have to call in the pros, be sure to use the right ones. Give these tips the consideration they deserve.