Advice For People Trying To Do Their Own Plumbing

TIP! If any water pipe that you have freezes, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.

People may need water to live, but water can just seem like a hassle if it’s flooding your basement. 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.

Septic Tank

TIP! Avoid bleach tablets, blue toilet deodorizers or the other odor removers inside your toilet. 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.

Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Regular maintenance will keep sediment from backing up inside of the tank. Sediment can not only cause the sewage in the tank to back up into your house, but it can cause the tank to fail completely. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.

TIP! To keep your garbage disposal lasting for a long time, make sure you clean it on a daily basis. Using lemon rinds and cherry pits mixed with dish soap will help keep your garbage disposal operating efficiently and smelling fresh.

Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.

TIP! You can save a lot of money in your energy bills by putting in efficient shower heads. Most of the hot water we use is used while we are showering.

If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, then you can be sure that the culprit is iron in your water. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.

TIP! Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket to keep potential problems to a minimum. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly.

When running your garbage disposal, always use a lot of cold water. The helps sharpen the blades and clears out the drain mechanism. Using hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate in the drain, which will cause clogs in your pipes.

TIP! Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Many times people try to save money and buy the cheapest one that they see.

In order to stay away from plumbing problems, you should make sure you are knowledgeable about the basics and prepared for the worst. The savvy homeowner who takes the time to learn even a little about plumbing is better able to make good decisions while avoiding plumbing situations that could become dangerous. It goes without saying that someone who has done research and is prepared before a problem arises will be better capable of fixing things faster.