Can`t Go With The Flow? Try These Strong Plumbing Tips
This article is going to provide you with well-proven advice about plumbing. Sometimes you are not sure about what you can trust and what you cannot. Use the great tips and tricks that have been gathered here and you can be assured you are getting tried and true advice.
Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage turn the main water supply off as well as any shut-off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
In order to avoid unsightly and unnecessary clogs in your shower, invest in a drain strainer. This cost-effective addition to your shower will gather your hair before it makes it to the drain, and limit the chances that you will find yourself showering while standing in a clogged-up mess.
To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in your basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.
Treating your drains every month is a great way to avoid future clogs and other problems, and it’s a very simple procedure. Just run one to two gallons of hot tap water down each drain in your house.
There are two easy methods to remove a stubborn clean-out plug. Try to use a hammer and chisel to loosen it. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to break through the plug itself.
In the winter months, if you live somewhere where temperatures fall below freezing, leave your faucets on a little bit to let a thin stream of water through. This will help prevent the pipes from freezing, which could be a major problem for you and all the pipes in your home.
Be sure to check that your faucets on the outside of your home are free of leaks as winter approaches. If they are dripping or leaking, you are going to have to have them repaired before winter actually arrives. No matter what material your pipes are constructed from, the additional pressure that results from freezing water will crack them. Even a small crack will let enough water out to cause some serious damage.
Teach kids how to shut off the toilet’s water supply. Kids are notorious for putting large wads of toilet paper and other things into the toilet, which inevitably leads to the toilet overflowing. Especially if your bathroom has carpet, show kids how to turn the water valve off if the toilet water keeps rising, to prevent the mess of an overflow.
Try to update your internal toilet components from time to time. If you have to hold down the handle for a long time to flush your toilet, you may need to replace a worn piece. This improvement will help to save a lot of money on your water bill during the year.
Always keep a trash bin in the bathroom so that you can dispose of cotton swabs, facial pads, and hair. Do not put these materials in the toilet as they can cause clogs over time and disrupt your water flow. These items will not dissolve or break down when submerged in water.
If you need to shut off your plumbing system, turning off the main valve is not enough. A leaking sink will still be supplied by the water that remains in the pipes. Make sure you check all the pipes for signs of wetness or leaks. You should do this regularly.
Plumbing is one of those jobs that you should not do yourself. If it is something easy like a toilet repair or changing out a faucet, go ahead and give it a try. If it is a major repair, then you are better off hiring a contractor and it may be required to have a licensed plumbing contractor do the work for you.
To summarize, you are looking for advice on your plumbing project but want to be sure that the information you are using has been tested over time. Hopefully, you will find this to be true of the information in this article. Use this great advice today and you will be more than satisfied.
