When you have to start repairing and maintaining your plumbing, you might wonder where to start. There are a lot of things to think about after all, from buying tools and equipment to following directions and local regulations. This article can show you what is needed to get the job done and how to do it properly.
If a water pipe freezes, you should turn the on tap that is nearest to the pipe to ensure the water has a place to get out when the pipe thaws out. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.
Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. If the sink has a garbage disposal, it will also make the blades less efficient. Be sure to get rid of oil products away from your sink.
Flush your drain with a constant stream of cold water when operating your drain mounted disposal unit. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. If you use hot water it will liquefy the grease, allowing it to accumulate in your drain causing your pipes to clog.
Do not use your toilet to get rid of garbage. 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. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs.
If you have clogged pipes, try cleaning them with an enzyme pipe cleaner. These cleaners use natural bacteria, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.
Always clean the lint from your dryer. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Regularly check your lint trap for rips or holes which could let lint escape into your pipes and cause clogging.
If you have grout stuck in the line, it probably won’t help you cleaning it all by yourself. You can try to break up the grout and send it further down. This is more successful in plastic plumbing as compared to metal pipes. You may eventually have to get a professional to solve this problem.
Garbage Disposal
Don’t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. Water does nothing to make the garbage disposal work more efficiently, even though many people seem to think that it makes the process smoother. Running water can help clear debris and keep the disposal’s temperature down, but it can also cause sticky materials to clog the disposal.
To extend the life of your pipes, try to stay away from drain cleaners if you can. Drain cleaners are composed of extremely corrosive chemicals and can actually damage pipes with frequent use. If your drain frequently blocks, then call a professional to see what the real problem is, and get it solved once and for all.
Water valves that are rarely ever used often become fused together. Maintain them with penetrating oil, and rotate them every so often so they don’t stick.
It is important to know the location of the valve that cuts off water to your house. Look closely for the water meter and it should be nearby. Usually toilets, sinks and other fixtures have cut-off valves of their own. Make sure all the members of your family know where the cut-off valves are. In addition, add markings to show how they should be turned off.
Plumbing doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you know what you’re doing. There are quite a few basics to understand though. All that you need to get started is doing a little homework, putting in some effort and using your head to determine the soundest approach to the problem at hand.
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