This article has some of the best tips and tricks available to you concerning plumbing. You can check elsewhere if you want; however, in order to make the most out of your time, we suggest that you take a few minutes to check out the expert advice provided here.

You always want to solder correctly, the biggest mistake most people make when soldering is failing to get the interior of the fitting and the exterior of the pipe clean and shiny. Polish these surfaces with a fine emery clot until bright. When soldering, never heat the pipe, but instead, heat the fitting. Doing so allows the solder to be drawn into the fitting by capillary action.

To prevent the pipes from freezing, it is advisable to seal off air vents, cracks and access doors. In order to keep the heat in and the cold out, you can try using insulation or caulk. In the event, a leak occurs, make it a point to remind everyone where the master circuit breaker is so it can be shut off immediately.

Group all of your plumbing repairs before scheduling a plumber to come out. Check all of your fixtures and faucets. If anything is dripping, running or clogged, make a list for the plumber. That way, when the plumber comes, they can do all of the jobs in one visit. This will cut down on charges.

Make sure overflow holes are cleaned out. This can help to prevent any water damage. Overflow holes are a way to stop water from overflowing if a sink is left on by accident. If the overflow hole is clogged it will not be able to do its job.

You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring, Kool-Aid or some coffee grounds to the water in the toilet’s tank (not the water in the bowl). Check the water in the bowl after a half hour or so. If any of the coloring agents is visible in the water in the bowl, the tank is leaking, and you will have to have it repaired.

It is not always necessary to call in a plumber when you have a damaged section of pipe in your plumbing. There are repair kits you can buy in your local hardware store which are excellent in repairing leaks. If you have a small leak, you can rub a compound stick over the hole or crack in the pipe to seal it shut. Epoxy paste is also an excellent remedy for leaking pipes. Make sure you turn off the water and completely dry the pipe before applying the epoxy.

Using your toilet as a garbage disposal is sure to cause problems! If you flush improper items such as disposable diapers, facial tissue, cotton balls, paper toweling, tampons or sanitary napkins down the toilet, you will surely have problems with clogs. Also, use as little toilet paper as possible to clean yourself properly.

Make sure that your toolbox is ready for any project you are preparing to do. The last thing you want is to be knee-deep in a job only to find that you are missing the one tool you need to finish. Be sure to have various sizes of pipe wrenches that can be used to complete any job.

Do not ignore a slow flushing toilet. This is usually a sign that something is wrong. It can also cause backups and overflows. The most common causes of a slow flushing toilet are sediment build-up, tank malfunctions, or partial clogs. You should periodically check for these problems.

Some people say that when you use the garbage disposal you don’t have to run the water. Many people make the mistake of thinking that a disposal can handle anything as long as they have water running when they turn it on. That is not true at all. In some cases, water can actually cause garbage to become lodged in awkward places, and contribute to future problems.

In conclusion, not all advice should be taken seriously. Be sure to be careful who you take advice from especially when it is something that could lead to much frustration in the future. This article hopefully provided all of the details that you need to know about plumbing.