If you really master the art of plumbing, the results will show in both your home and your pocketbook. It will come across that you do care about the upkeep, and that you feel the need to make sure that everything is working properly all on your own. That’s called getting things done the right way. And like most things in life, there’s always more to learn and ways to improve. These tips will help you do that.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. If they freeze, it will be awhile for them to gradually warm. Therefore, it will take some time for you to have running water again. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.
If you aren’t having any luck using a plunger on a clogged toilet, you may want to try pouring warm water into it from waist high. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.
Never try to fix a garbage disposal by putting your hand down into it. Even when in the off position, garbage disposals are dangerous. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
Make sure there is a strainer covering all drains in order to collect particles that would cause a clog if they went down the drain. Clean your kitchen strainer often, particularly if you can see debris accumulating. Clean out the bathtup strainer every few days before it becomes clogged.
Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. When they cool off, they become hard and will clog your pipes. A garbage disposal can even become clogged by hardened grease and it will not run at optimum speed and efficiency. To keep your kitchen pipes clear, never dispose of grease down your sink drain.
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.
Install water-saving shower heads to reduce your energy costs. Your shower consumes a majority of the hot water usage in your home. Invest in an energy-efficient shower head and you could save a hundred dollar every year on your water bill.
If water is draining into a dishwasher, it is probably because the hose attached to the sink is not installed correctly. The hose leading from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher must lead uphill and then back downhill in order to prevent mixing of water from both devices.
Do not attempt to remove grout from your plumbing. You can try to break up the grout and send it further down. Plastic pipes, if you have them, will work better than metal. You might have to get a professional to get rid of this issue.
Garbage Disposal
When you grind things up in the garbage disposal, don’t run the water while doing so. Water does nothing to make the garbage disposal work more efficiently, even though many people seem to think that it makes the process smoother. In point of fact, sending water and garbage through the disposal together can shorten its lifespan by encouraging more waste to stick to the moving parts.
Now you have some necessary knowledge and tools in order for you to try out your plumbing skills. Great! The advice in this piece is meant to enhance your growing body of plumbing knowledge, and you should always continue to learn. You could have discovered a “regular” or new favorite idea for plumbing projects.
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