Solid Plumbing Advice For The Do-It-Yourself Homeowner
While it’s the source of life, water is the enemy of a homeowner facing plumbing problems. There are not many things more devastating to a home’s structure than a major plumbing problem. Luckily, there are many things people can do to stave off plumbing disasters and make sure the damage is minimal when unexpected events do happen.
Avoid plumbing problems! Do not stop up the toilet! Some common items that will stop up a toilet include: toys, hair, paper towels, birth control items, and feminine personal products. Do not flush these items down your toilet – unless the instructions say otherwise! These can stop up your toilet – to the point that nothing else will work – except calling a plumber!
Check the filters in your furnace, regularly. If these filters have not been cleaned or replaced recently, they may become clogged. This will affect how well your furnace is able to work, meaning that you may not have enough heat during the winter. Take this simple step, as soon as the weather starts to become cold.
Clean the lint trap in your dryer. This saves you from potential problems, including the prevention of fires. Make sure that you inspect the lint trap for any holes or tears that might mean lint is going to your pipes, which might lead to clogs and other problems to deal with.
Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear clogged drains by purchasing a hand-held manual auger. A drain auger is a one-time purchase as opposed to purchasing a new bottle every time a drain is clogged. This is especially helpful for people who deal with clogged drains often, such as people with long hair or kids who like to drop things down the drain.
If you have problems with a slow drain, there are easier things you can do other than removing the pipes to clean it. There are certain tools made just for this purpose that you insert into the drain to loosen the clog so it washes away or grabs it and remove it completely.
Many people wonder where the fruit flies are coming from. Each plumbing fixture has a self-sealed reserve that holds about two cups of water. If those pipes are broken or do not seal off, then odors and residue can cause fruit flies. It is recommended before anything to clean your pipes using bleach. If the flies come back, contact a professional.
To be successful in any plumbing project, make sure you turn the water off before you start unscrewing pipes. This tip might actually sound insulting, but you are probably getting caught up in having the right tools and parts and being dressed right. Double-check that there is no splash waiting for you. Then triple and quadruple check.
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.
The most important plumbing tip you need to know is — how to turn off your home’s main water supply. Once the water is shut off, you can investigate problems and figure out how to resolve them. Walk the family through the house and show them where all the water shut-off valves are, and how to use them.
Government agencies can provide information about plumbing contractors. You can check for valid licenses and negative reviews. If they don’t have a current license, you don’t want them working for you.
Insulate your pipes properly. If the temperature drops below fifty-five degrees, your pipes could freeze. This makes pipes extremely fragile and increases the risk of leaks and damages. The pipes inside your house should not freeze but take a look at a plan of your plumbing system to see if you have any pipes outside of your house.
Preparation and plumbing education are what are needed to avoid plumbing mishaps. Even just learning the basics will go a long way to prevent costly and damaging mistakes. If a problem does arise, research and preparation ahead of time will make the problem easier to fix.
