Maintaining your plumbing system is an instrumental part of taking care of your home. Sometimes, your plumbing needs attention and you may not be able to afford a plumber or it may be a bad time to call one. Some basic tips here will allow you to take care of your own home’s plumbing needs.
If you have pipes that make hammering and squeaking noises, you have one easy repair. Anchoring exposed pipes will decrease the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. If pipes are located in the floors, ceiling or walls, a professional might be needed for the job.
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. The pipes will be able to freeze if the temperature surrounding the pipes drops below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. However, your pipes can explode, as well – making a huge plumbing bill.
If your water pipe has frozen, start water running in the faucet closest to the frozen pipe. This will give excess water somewhere to drain as the ice in the pipe thaws. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.
Septic System
A great tip to use to stop your septic tank from backing up is to make sure you have it pumped at least every five years. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it’s dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.
Do not pay anything until the problem is fixed. It is customary to put down one-third to one-half of the total cost before the work is started, but do not pay in full until it is complete. You will feel better paying the bill when you are completely satisfied with the job.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Thoroughly clean the strainer on a regular basis. Bathtubs should be equipped with strainers as well, and they too will need to be cleaned regularly.
If your home runs on well water and you notice any orange or pink stains in your fixtures or tub, this is because of iron in your water. A water softener can cure this problem and can be installed by you, or you may opt to have a professional to come and install it for you.
Here is a good tip for a safe, inexpensive way to keep the drain in your bathtub trouble-free. Take one cup of baking soda and pour it into the drain. Then do the same with a cup of vinegar. Do this procedure once a month. Cover the drain with an old rag, because there will be a chemical reaction taking place inside the pipes. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. This should help clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.
Garbage Disposal
If you operate the disposal on your sink, run plenty of cool water. When cold water hits the garbage disposal, it sharpens the blades. This keeps the disposal working properly. 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.
Don’t treat your toilet like a garbage can if you want to avoid a lot of potential plumbing problems. Don’t flush anything that is unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, such as diapers, tissues, paper towels and cotton balls. In addition, you should only use the amount of toilet paper that is absolutely necessary when cleaning yourself.
As you now know, there are many tricks and tips that can be used to repair plumbing in your house. If you can follow these tips and implement them correctly, you should have no trouble fixing your plumbing and ultimately saving a lot of money compared to hiring a plumber.
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