
Water may be the source of all life, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. One little mistake can lead to major water damage inside your home, which can end up costing you a small fortune to fix. Thankfully, there are many steps a homeowner can take to prevent plumbing headaches from occurring, while also minimizing problems should they happen.
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. By doing this, the pipe pressure is relieved, and this should stop it from bursting, which would prevent further home damage.
Knowing what tools are what and the proper way to use them will make you much better at plumbing. Study before any do it yourself project by reading any relevant manuals, going online and even making trips to your local public library. When planning on repairs, plan on having a plan.
If a plunger is ineffective, you might be able to do the trick with a bucket of warm water. If one attempt doesn’t solve the problem, you can do it again once the water level stabilizes.
Keep a strainer over every drain in your house to prevent stray debris from clogging your pipes. Your kitchen sink strainer must be cleaned whenever it catches anything. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out as needed.
Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. Oils are especially damaging to garbage disposals. Get rid of any fat or oils outside or in the garbage can.
Garbage Disposal
To ensure garbage disposal lasts long in your home, be sure you keep it cleaned regularly. You can use dish soap, lemon peels, and cherry pits to get your garbage disposal clean and fresh and running well.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Flush it with boiling water after a few minutes. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Always use cold water when your garbage disposal is running. When cold water hits the garbage disposal, it sharpens the blades. This keeps the disposal working properly. Grease will stay solid and go through your drain with cold water; you don’t want gooey grease in your pipes.
Being properly informed and ready for any situation makes it much easier to avoid problems with plumbing. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. Using the tips in this article around the house will help anyone complete any plumbing repair safely and successfully, and they’ll become the master of their domain!