Working on your own plumbing can be a little confusing. There are many things you have to consider, from tools to regulations and everything in between. Continue reading to find all the knowledge you’ll need to fix your own plumbing and even install new fixtures!
If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. But, be advised that your pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature near those pipes is less than freezing. In the best situation, it can take hours for frozen pipes to thaw and water to run freely again. The worst case scenario is a busted pipe and a costly repair.
If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Septic Tank
You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems. White it is somewhat expensive to pump the septic tank, it will be much more expensive should you need to clean backup, repair your septic tank or replace it altogether.
Keep your garbage disposal clean and it will last longer. By regularly “cleaning” the disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can make sure that your garbage disposal is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.
Schedule all the plumbing work at one time. Do not call a plumber for minor issues. You can save money by waiting to have everything fixed at the same time. Another reason it lowers costs is that plumbers bill per hour worked, and due to partial hour effects, doing all the work at once results in lower billable hours.
Garbage Disposal
If you run your garbage disposal after working in the kitchen, use a large quantity of cold water. The helps sharpen the blades and clears out the drain mechanism. Running hot water down the drain while you are using the garbage disposal can cause the drain to clog from any grease that is in there liquefying.
If you see unwanted water that keeps draining into your dishwasher, the problem is most likely a hose running to your kitchen sink that was not correctly installed. 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.
Don’t skimp on quality when it’s time to replace that shower head. Some people think it’s alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. Inexpensive shower heads are not terribly sturdy, though, and may not hold up to daily use.
Make sure to clean out the dryers lint trap. This will ensure that your dryer operates efficiently and prevents fires. Always check your lint trap for damage, such as holes or tears. This could allow lint to enter your pipes, leading to clogs or other plumbing complications.
In order to keep your plumbing bills as low as possible, keep in mind prevention is key. Drain clogs are a common plumbing expense. Too much hair will clog a drain. You can prevent hair from getting into your drains by simply installing a device on top of your drain such as a screen, which will trap the hair from getting into the pipes. It is much easier to remove the hair from a screen than it is to get it out of a pipe.
As you have seen, plumbing, while appearing intimidating, is not all that complicated. You need to learn the basics, however. All you need to begin is a bit of knowledge, work, and some common sense to seek the most helpful and effectual ways to complete the job.
If you have desire to learn more click here.