Got Pipes Issues? Use These Easy Tips!
Authored by-Fitzpatrick McLamb
It is common for plumbing problems to start right after you buy your home. Plumbing issues can occur in any room in the house, but usually happen in the kitchen or bathroom. Unfortunately, you should expect that plumbing issues can arise at any given time. Here are some tips to help you when that happens.
Avoid plumbing problems! Do not stop up the toilet! Some common items that will stop up a toilet include: toys, hair, paper towels, birth control items, and feminine personal products. Do not flush these items down your toilet - unless the instructions say otherwise! These can stop up your toilet - to the point that nothing else will work - except calling a plumber!
Routinely check your appliance connections and faucets around the house for any kind of obvious leaks or nearby signs of moisture. Not only do even the smallest leaks lead to a large waste of water and money, they also can lead to damage to your home or even the development of harmful molds.
It is not always necessary to call in a plumber when you have a damaged section of pipe in your plumbing. There are repair kits you can buy in your local hardware store which are excellent in repairing leaks. If you have a small leak, you can rub a compound stick over the hole or crack in the pipe to seal it shut. Epoxy paste is also an excellent remedy for a leaking pipes. Make sure you turn off the water and completely dry the pipe before applying the epoxy.
Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. Whenever large particles become trapped in the strainer, remove them. A strainer in your bathtub should be checked occasionally and cleaned whenever necessary.
Applying prevention measures is key to preventing plumbing issues. A common serious repair is removing clogs in the drain. Clogs in drains can be caused by hair, among other things. You can prevent this from occurring by using a drain cover or a screen that is meant to keep the hair out of the drain and pipes. Make sure you clean the hair from the screen regularly. This should be much easier than cleaning a drain.
While it may seem like a seemingly harmless thing to do, never run potato peels through your garbage disposal. The chemical make up of this seemingly harmless food allows the potato to turn into a thick, viscous substance that can wreak havoc on the disposal itself, with the potential to render it completely useless.
Ask before the plumber comes out if they charge for the consultation. In order to quote a project, the plumber has to come out to inspect your particular issue. It is standard to charge for the consultation appointment but the prices can vary wildly. Ask upfront so that you aren't surprised by the total.
When getting an estimate from a contractor on a job, make sure to ask how long the written estimate is good for. For big jobs you usually want to get estimates from a few different plumbers. Knowing how long great post to read is valid will help you know what your time limit is for making a decision on who to hire.
Work with plumbers that offer flat rates. When a plumber is charging by the hour, they do not have an incentive to get the job done quickly. It is human nature to go just a little bit slower if it'll mean extra money in our pockets. If you cannot find someone who charges per project make sure that you are vigilant in watching the clock and their work.
Try to update your internal toilet components from time to time. If you have to hold down the handle for a long time to flush your toilet, you may need to replace a worn piece. This improvement will help to save a lot of money on your water bill during the year.
To make sure there is no accident or sudden rush of water when you tackle a plumbing project, make sure you are ready for a cleanup. If you go into the work with a huge stack of towels and blankets ready to absorb water, the prospect of needing to actually do it will keep you alert enough to avoid triggering the accident in the first place.
To clear mineral deposits from your showerhead, try a soak in white vinegar. Simply add https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G9ccexsZvQJWMSH6VDDXnXDqPoLa8xJC-wbAuybbnK0/edit?usp=sharing or two of vinegar to a plastic bag and tape it around the showerhead, ensuring that it is submerged. Leave the bag on for an hour, and the vinegar will dissolve the mineral build-up, allowing water to gush through like it was when it was new.
One of the most inexpensive plumbing issues is a running toilet. Simply by understanding how a toilet actually functions is the first best tool in avoiding a running toilet. If you understand the function of the lever and floater, you will be able to fix any running toilet in no time.
If you find that your pipes have frozen during the cold winter months open all the faucets in your home. This lowers the water pressure for when the pipes thaw and the water is freely flowing again. Make sure to open all the faucets not just those that are frequently used.
If you are trying to decide on the material to use for your hose, stick with stainless steel. Stainless steel has a very solid construction and stays durable for many years, eliminating the need for replacement. Also, this material is less prone to bursting, which can yield severe plumbing issues.
If you can see water dripping in or near your walls, shut off the water and call a professional right away. This is an indication that there is serious problem with your plumbing. A lot of these problems have the potential to cause mold or mildew that is harmful to you, and it can even flood your house.
If you have a leaky faucet, the problem may be mineral buildup. Mineral building can cause you to have a broken seal in your faucet which will cause leaks and make it unreliable. If you've already checked for the most common leak problem which is the washer, looking for buildup is the next possible culprit.
In conclusion, you want to be sure that all of the advice you have heard about plumbing is correct. Take the time to go back over this article and decide what applies to you and what you need to learn even more about. The learning process never stops and it will benefit you greatly.
