2
Tips To Help You Do Your Own Plumbing Finding issues with the plumbing after purchasing a new home is not an uncommon experience. These issues tend to crop up somewhere near or in the bathroom, and also around the kitchen. Practically everyone will experience problems with their plumbing at some point in their lives. Keep reading to find tips that will assist you in dealing with those problems. Plumbing that constantly squeaks, pounds, and emits other noises is irritating but, fortunately, the problem is often easily fixed. You must anchor any type of exposed pipe. If these pipes on the ceiling, or in the floors or walls, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you finish the project. Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any exposed pipe works. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. The best case scenario is that you can heat the pipes and the water will start flowing again. They could also burst costing you a lot of money and repairs. Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properly maintained. Doing so will help to avoid septic tank problems by ensuring that the tank does not become clogged with sediment. If the cost of pumping your septic tank seems a bit steep, remember that the cost of water heater installer cleanup and repair of a failed septic system will be much higher. If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. If the water goes down to a lower level again, then you should repeat the procedure. If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. Garbage disposals can be very dangerous, so take caution when fixing it, even while it's turned off. Try to find a diagram, or troubleshooting guide for your particular disposal on the Internet. Sifting drainers are available for any size drain to prevent items larger than a grain of sand going into your pipes. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. The bathtub strainer will prevent hair from clogging up your drain. Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. Grease hardens when it cools and will clog your pipes. Grease is of particular concern when there is a disposal unit installed in your drain. It can cause the unit to lose efficiency. Dump your oil outside or in a container that you throw out with the regular trash. Check the overflow holes for clogs. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling. It may seem unlikely as a problem now, but the necessity is there. Take the time to clean out the overflow holes as you go through your house doing your regular checks for various issues. Remember that your toilet is not intended to be used to dispose of trash. Don't put disposable sanitary objects down the toilet. The sewage system cannot deal with these items and will become clogged. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs. If you are looking into hiring a plumber, make certain you do your research first before you hire one. Hiring a plumber who is not experienced enough for your problem could make the situation worse.

Tips To Help You Do Your Own Plumbing

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Tips To Help You Do Your Own Plumbing

Finding issues with the plumbing after purchasing a new home is not an uncommon experience.These issues tend to crop up somewhere near or in the bathroom, and also around the kitchen.Practically everyone will experience problems with their plumbing at some point in their lives. Keepreading to find tips that will assist you in dealing with those problems.

Plumbing that constantly squeaks, pounds, and emits other noises is irritating but, fortunately, theproblem is often easily fixed. You must anchor any type of exposed pipe. If these pipes on the ceiling,or in the floors or walls, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you finish the project.

Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up anyexposed pipe works. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. The bestcase scenario is that you can heat the pipes and the water will start flowing again. They could alsoburst costing you a lot of money and repairs.

Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properlymaintained. Doing so will help to avoid septic tank problems by ensuring that the tank does notbecome clogged with sediment. If the cost of pumping your septic tank seems a bit steep, rememberthat the cost of water heater installer cleanup and repair of a failed septic system will be muchhigher.

If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumpingwarm water in the bowl from around your waist line. If the water goes down to a lower level again,then you should repeat the procedure.

If your garbage disposal is giving you problems, never stick your hand in it to fix it yourself. Garbagedisposals can be very dangerous, so take caution when fixing it, even while it's turned off. Try to finda diagram, or troubleshooting guide for your particular disposal on the Internet.

Sifting drainers are available for any size drain to prevent items larger than a grain of sand goinginto your pipes. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. The bathtub strainer will preventhair from clogging up your drain.

Do not pour grease or other oils in your sink or down your drain. Grease hardens when it cools andwill clog your pipes. Grease is of particular concern when there is a disposal unit installed in yourdrain. It can cause the unit to lose efficiency. Dump your oil outside or in a container that you throwout with the regular trash.

Check the overflow holes for clogs. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling.It may seem unlikely as a problem now, but the necessity is there. Take the time to clean out theoverflow holes as you go through your house doing your regular checks for various issues.

Remember that your toilet is not intended to be used to dispose of trash. Don't put disposablesanitary objects down the toilet. The sewage system cannot deal with these items and will becomeclogged. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs.

If you are looking into hiring a plumber, make certain you do your research first before you hire one.Hiring a plumber who is not experienced enough for your problem could make the situation worse.

Search for reviews of plumbers, or ask friends or family members to recommend a competentplumber.

As winter approaches, be sure that your external faucets are not dripping and leaking. If the faucetshave these problems, they will have to be repaired before temperatures reach the freezing point.Freezing water can and will crack pipes, whether they are made of copper, steel, or plastic. Thetiniest cracks might create water damage or cause water to flood into your house.

It is important to locate the main water supply cut-off valve in your home. You should be able to findthe water meter close by or directly on it. Additionally, certain fixtures in your home, including sinksand toilets, may have individual cut-off valves. Show every family member where the valves are, andadd markings showing how to turn them off in case of emergency.

Most people don't know much about plumbing, so they pay ghastly prices for plumbing services. Ifyou're a homeowner, it's important you know enough to understand what a plumber is doing in yourhouse. The more you know, the less likely you'll be likely to get ripped off.

Not being prepared for plumbing issues can prove to be troublesome. If you own a home, you shouldhave some basic plumbing equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it. If you should face afuture plumbing problem, the information you gained here will help you tackle the situation.