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.

On very cold winter nights, allow your faucets to trickle slightly, especially if your pipes are located in a crawlspace. The running water prevents the pipes from freezing as quickly as they would otherwise. You can catch the water and use it for other household needs to prevent wasting it.

Use a hairdryer to thaw frozen pipes, after you shut off the water to the house. A hairdryer will gently heat the pipe and thaw the ice without causing significant damage to the pipe. Shutting off the water first means that if the pipe is broken, there will be no rush of water into the house.

Unclog drains with ease. Try using a plunger and drain cleaner, as your clog may simply be a build-up of hair and debris. If this doesn’t work you may have to clear the drain with a snake. Feed the snake into the drain line as far as it will go. Turn the crank gently, which will help to loosen the clog. Remove the snake, and run water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. You may have to use the snake a couple of times before the clog is cleared so don’t give up!

Use strainers in all drain to catch hair and other objects. This will prevent all the material from going down the drain and causing a clog, which can cause a bigger problem down the line. Clean out the strainers daily so that you don’t start getting backup water in your sink or tub.

Choose enzyme-based cleaners if your pipes get clogged. Enzyme-based cleaners work by using natural bacteria that turns the sludge clogged in your pipes into a liquid, allowing it to flow down the drain with ease. The best options on the market now are enzyme cleaners.

Make sure to pour a gallon or two of water into drains that are used infrequently. Not only does this make sure that they are clear when you need them, but can also fill the trap and make sure that unpleasant odors don’t enter your home. Doing this periodically will also help you to catch problems before they become serious.

Don’t run the water while putting food through your garbage disposal. It is a popular belief that running water will help the garbage disposal work, but this is mistaken. It could even cause food to stick to the blades of the disposal, creating damage.

When you wash your hands, be sure that you have not left any soap on the faucet handles. What people do not know is that leaving soap on these fixtures can cause fixtures to corrode. Just take two seconds after you are done washing your hands to remove excess soap from the handles.

To be able to get a good plumber you can be comfortable with, remember which of your friends are actual homeowners and not renting. At some point, every homeowner has had to call in a plumber. They can give you a good personal reference they had a positive experience with.

As the weather turns frosty, make sure faucets outside are not dripping or leaking. If they are, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing. Frozen water puts a lot of pressure on pipes and makes them crack, regardless of the material. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood your entire home.

You should contact your local Consumer Affairs Department before you hire any plumber. It is important to verify that they have a valid license and to check on any complaints that may have been made against them. If they don’t generate appealing results, you can simply move forward and find someone who does.

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.