Unfortunately, most homeowners find that plumbing issues tend to rear their head soon after a new property is purchased. These problems typically occur in bathrooms and kitchens. In reality, every homeowner at some point will be troubled by a plumbing problem. Here are some helpful plumbing tips in case you find yourself in that situation, or any other situation where you will need to do some plumbing work.
In order to prevent any pipes within your home from freezing, you should never let the home temperature get below freezing. Always insulate pipes exposed to elements. The pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature drops below freezing. It could take some time in order for the pipes to thaw out so that you can have running water. In the worst case, the pipes would burst, and you would be stuck with costly repairs and a very messy cleanup procedure.
Septic Tank
Have your septic tank cleaned every five years to keep it in prime condition. This will stop any buildup in your septic tank and prevent any horrible issues. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.
If your garbage disposal stops working, never try to fix it by reaching down with your hands. Even an un-powered garbage disposal presents significant danger. Look for a diagram of the garbage disposal you have on the Internet.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. When they cool off, they become hard and will clog your pipes. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.
Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. Overflows holes can be used in the event the sink overfills, which is a big problem if they are clogged. Take the time to clean out the overflow holes as you go through your house doing your regular checks for various issues.
If water is draining into a dishwasher, it is probably because the hose attached to the sink is not installed correctly. Your hose must run in a hill pattern to avoid water mixing. Think of the St. Louis Arch — start from your sink, go uphill with the hose, and then down before connecting to the dishwasher. This way, only pressurized water can travel through the hose. Leakage won’t be an issue.
To lower the chance that you will have issues with your toilet, do not approach it like it’s a trash can. Don’t flush paper towels, diapers, cotton balls, tissues or any other materials besides toilet paper. These items don’t dissolve and can cause clogs. Even keep toilet paper use to the minimum necessary.
When it is time to replace your shower head, you should consider paying a little more for a better one. It’s common to think it’s fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. Inexpensive shower heads are not terribly sturdy, though, and may not hold up to daily use.
Enzyme Based Cleaners
Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These will utilize natural bacteria to transform sludge into a liquid that can be removed. Enzyme based cleaners are not corrosive so they won’t erode your metal pipes.
Being unprepared when an issue with plumbing strikes is not advisable. If you own a home, you should have some basic plumbing equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it. If you wind up with a future plumbing problem, the advice you have learned from this article will get you through it.
If you have desire to learn more click here.
