Water may be the source of all life, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. Serious plumbing disasters can be extremely damaging to any home. Fortunately for you, there are a ton of things you can do to prevent these nightmares and to fix them when 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. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Don’t use harsh chemicals such as toilet tablets in your toilet. These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.
Schedule your plumbing work simultaneously. Of course, our natural inclination is to handle problems as they arise, but it helps to get everything done at once. Even if you only have one noticeable problem, you can still get a plumber to inspect other areas. Because plumbers generally round up to the nearest hour, this also allows you to save money. The time only gets rounded up once, rather than multiple times.
You can keep your bathtub pipes clear by pouring baking soda and vinegar down your drain once a month. Use one cup of each. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. After waiting a few minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. This procedure should clear the pipes of soap scum and accumulated hair.
Overflow Holes
Ensure overflow holes don’t have any debris in them. If your sink starts to overflow, the water will run into the overflow holes, this might not be a huge issue, unless they are clogged. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.
If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. Enzyme based cleaners work by using natural bacteria that turns the sludge clogged in your pipes into a liquid, allowing it to flow down the drain with ease. Enzyme cleaners are efficient and will not damage your pipes.
Lint Trap
Always remember to keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. Inspect your lint trap often to see if there are any tears or holes. If there are, you can have lint getting into your pipes, and this will clog them and give you more problems that will have to be dealt with.
Don’t bother running your water when you use the garbage disposal. It is popular belief that running water will help the garbage disposal work, but this is mistaken. Actually, the water can make the garbage stick to the disposal, which can lead to more damage.
Clean out plugs can be extremely tricky to remove; they tend to stick easily. Here are two ways you can use to deal with a stubborn plug. Try to use a hammer and chisel to loosen it. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.
As winter approaches, be sure that your external faucets are not dripping and leaking. If you find dripping or leaking, make the repairs before the temperature plummets. Whether your pipes are made of plastic, copper or steel, the water pressure caused by freezing water will make them crack. Even a small crack is capable of releasing enough water to damage or flood your home.
The valves will fuse together if they are not used. Maintain the water valves every so often with a qualtiy penetrating oil, turning each of them every now and then to prevent them from sticking.
Government agencies can provide information about plumbing contractors. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. If they don’t have a current license, you don’t want them working for you.
Because plumbing is a mysterious and hidden field to a lot of homeowners, they are willing to take any claim and any bill from a plumber at face value, no matter how ridiculous it is. If you own your own home, you should at least learn enough about plumbing to understand how plumbing problems should be handled by a professional. This will ensure that you are not ripped off.
Preparation and plumbing education are what is needed to avoid plumbing mishaps. When a homeowner knows a few things about plumbing, he is going to make smart decisions when dealing with plumbing problems. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.