Good plumbing maintenance is relatively easy, but failing to keep up with it can mean costly repairs. Here are some good ways you can take care of your plumbing, either yourself or with the help of a licensed professional. Take care of your house now and it will benefit you in the future.

Plumbing that constantly squeaks, pounds, and emits other noises is irritating but, fortunately, the problem is often easily fixed. Exposed pipes need to be properly anchored. For pipes that are situated inside walls, or the floor or ceiling, you should hire a professional.

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. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. Even in the best-case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.

Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually cause there to be a backup in your home. Although it could cost a good deal of money to pump out your septic tank, it will cost a lot more having to clean sewage backup or having to fix or replace a septic tank.

Use your garbage disposal with the cold water running so that you can preserve the blades of the disposal. Using hot water makes grease more liquid and can cause problems, including clogs. Make sure to clean blades by putting in a little dish detergent and running cold water at the same time.

Periodically check your pipes for leaks and cracks. These can be forgotten since pipes are usually hidden away, but checking for leaks and cracks can help you identify a small problem before a big problem occurs. You may have to enlist the help of a family member to turn on and off the water stream as you are checking.

Taking preemptive action to fix a strange-smelling kitchen sink can be a good way to keep your kitchen smelling great. Make sure not to throw hair or grease into your sink. Use baking soda if you have a strange smell coming from your drain. Make sure you use your garbage disposal if you have one to grind up any food and use water while doing this to prevent damage to the blades of the garbage disposal.

If your drain in any device is taking longer to drain water, then you may need to have your pipes professionally cleaned depending on the severity of the circumstances. Before you do this, there are several different products you can try. However, some of them are professional strengths and all products should be used with caution.

Before you can fix a toilet that does not flush properly, it is important that you find out what is causing the problem. Depending on what the problem is, you may be able to fix it yourself. However, more complicated toilet flushing problems may require the services of a plumber.

One plumbing repair that costs a lot of money is frozen pipes. This can usually be prevented. First, insulate your outside pipes well. And when the temperatures start dropping, you will want to drain your hoses and disconnect them, and then turn off all of the outside faucets. This will help to save you money on plumbing bills.

One way to avoid a common plumbing problem is to make sure never to flush anything but human waste and toilet paper down a toilet. Other things made of paper like tissues, paper towels, and the like do not dissolve the same way toilet paper does and can get stuck.

During the warm seasons, you will see that there will be many bird nests forming in and around your plumbing vent pipes. It is essential to clear these out, as they can have a devastating effect on the quality of your plumbing and the flow of water in your home.

As mentioned above, most periodic plumbing maintenance is simple and straightforward. Most repairs resulting from serious damage to your plumbing are not. Now that you know how to deal with the plumbing issues in your home, you should be more prepared to prevent or mitigate the more serious problems that can result.