Did you know that a leaky spray head on your kitchen sink might be caused by a faulty diverter? If this piques your interest or if you want to know more about plumbing, then you will want to read what else we have to provide in this article about how to take care of plumbing in your home.

Solder with safety in mind. When you solder a copper pipe you want to direct the flame on the copper pipe. The flame of the torch has to be four inches away from the piping. The flame should be targeted directly at the point where the copper piping needs to be disconnected.

Use the sounds you hear from your pipes to help you to determine what the problem is. Certain sounds mean the water pressure is too high. Other sounds can signify loose pipes or slight clogs from calcium or iron buildup. Listening to your pipes can save you a lot of money hunting down the problem.

To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against outdoor temperatures. Obviously, if it is below freezing outdoors, the pipes will be subjected to the same temperatures. At the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. On the other hand, they can burst, which gets messy and really expensive.

You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch off the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand, you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.

One of the things that you can do to maximize the security of your home is to seal all of the cracks in your outdoor faucets. Even a tiny crack can intensify as the season progresses and lead to serious problems down the road. Reduce drips and leaks for optimal protection.

Get a good-quality replacement shower head. Some people think it’s alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. However, cheap parts don’t work as well and break down more quickly.

Keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This is preventative maintenance that will prevent many problems, including fires. Regularly check your dryer’s lint trap to see if it has any tears or holes that could potentially damage your dryer, and clog up your plumbing.

If you live in an area that sees routine freezing temperatures, make sure you do something to keep your pipes from becoming frozen as well. There are a wide variety of ways you can keep your pipes from freezing, which will help you avoid damage to your home and costly repairs.

Frozen pipes can lead to many problems, most of them expensive to fix. So you want to avoid that at all costs. To avoid frozen pipes, make sure the temperature in your home never drops below 55 degrees. Look for any air leaks around your pipes and make sure they’re sealed up.

One of the ways that you can improve the functionality of your shower head is to clean the mineral deposits from the surface. Unscrew your shower head and soak it in vinegar overnight. In the morning, brush off the deposits with a toothbrush to help the flow of water for your showers.

If water is flooding your home, immediately switch off the main electrical power. If water comes into contact with any electrical components, it can become a fatal situation. Once the power is off, then deal with the floodwater. Put your own and your family’s personal safety first, and show each member of the family how to shut off the power.

Call different plumbers before choosing one. Plumbing prices among professionals are not uniform. Before you hire someone to fix a major problem, call two or three other plumbers to see what their prices are like. This can be difficult if you have a major plumbing problem that you need to be solved right away but will save you money in the end.

In conclusion, that leaky faucet may just be easier to fix than you imagined. Instead of making a call to a plumber, having to wait, and then paying out top dollar, you can now fix it yourself. Use this advice to put yourself in the best financial situation possible when it comes to plumbing.