Have you ever had a plumbing problem that you felt you couldn't solve on your own? Was the problem j...

1. Plumbing Advice Made Simple For You
Have you ever had a plumbing problem that you felt you couldn't solve on your own? Was the
problem just over your head? Were you afraid of what might happen if you mess with things you
don't understand? Read on to find out how to become more confident about solving problems next
time your plumbing goes wrong.
Keep your plumbing flowing by maintaining a temperature above 32 degrees and wrapping up any
exposed pipe works. If the temperature surrounding the pipes is anywhere below freezing, this can
cause the pipes to freeze. It takes time for thawing to occur so you can have water again. Frozen
pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.
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 you know where your home's water shutoff is located. You never know when there might
be an emergency involving a broken pipe or damaged connection that requires you to turn off the
water right away. In addition, knowing where the shutoff is located is vital before you start any
plumbing project, in case anything goes wrong.
There are simple ways to check your toilet for leaks that can ultimately lead to great cost savings in
the long run. The easiest way to do this is to pour a small amount of food dye into the holding tank of
your toilet overnight. In the morning, if you have any color in the basin then you know
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/clearing-clogged-drains.html you have a leak that needs some
attention.
Do not pour grease or oil down any of your household drains. Put them in containers and place in the
fridge until they are solid, then throw them away. If you pour them down the drain, they can solidify
in cold pipes. These solid masses will clog your pipes and are very difficult to remove.
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 plumbing problems caused by grout in the water lines, it is best not to attempt to fix it
yourself. You can try to break it up to send it on down the line. This works better with plastic piping
than it does with metal. However, this problem usually requires the help of a plumber.
Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shut off valve is and that they know
how to work it. That way, if there is a water problem, anyone in your household can turn off the
water, thereby reducing the chances that your home will incur major water damage.
Teach your children how to notice plumbing problems. Many parents handle plumbing issues
without sharing that information with their children, who grow up not knowing anything about
plumbing. Any time you make a small repair or notice a problem, call your kids in and explain what

2. the problem is and what you are going to do. Educate them so they can make good decisions in the
future.
One way to prevent water heater problems is to turn down the heat. As long as the water is still as
hot as needed for showers and washing dishes, turning it down won't hurt anything, and will extend
the life of the heater. Holding very hot water can corrode https://howardroyden.wordpress.com/ the
inside.
The key to finding a great plumber for new construction is to look at their prior jobs. Good plumbers
take pride in the work they do, so they will have photos and references from previous jobs. If the
plumber you are considering hiring does not have references or photos of previous jobs, then stay
away and find another.
If you cannot turn off your main water
valve before leaving on vacation, turn off
the individual valves for the toilets, sinks,
and washing machine. If the valves do not
look like they are in good working order,
then leave them on and that will be
something that you need to have changed
when you return.
Pick the drain cleaner you use carefully.
Some contain strong chemicals which
could cause damage to your pipes. Try to
select a brand with less harmful chemicals.
Not all chemical cleaners are good for your
pipes--or for you. Some chemicals are toxic to humans. In addition, if a cleaner attacks bacteria
indiscriminately, it may destroy helpful bacteria that keep the plumbing system running smoothly.
If your water bill seems unusually high and you haven't changed your water usage, the problem is
most likely in the service line. The cost to hire a professional to find and repair the service line most
often is far greater than installing a new line and then having the old one shut off permanently.
When using a kitchen garbage disposal, let the water run for a few minutes even after you shut off
the disposal itself. The ground up waste matter generated by the disposal exits your house plumbing
via water force and without that water, it can sit in pipes and cause clogs.

3. Learn early what type of faucet you have
and learn how to handle common issues
that may arise with it. There are four
basic faucet types: compression,
cartridge, disc, and ball. If you know
ahead of time what you have and how to
fix it, you will save yourself some major
frustrations down the road.
You should schedule all your plumbing
repairs for one appointment in order to
save money and time. Before you call a plumber, identify all the various plumbing issues you have to
be addressed. This way, all of the issues can get taken care of at one time, and the plumber will not
have to return to your residence multiple times.
In conclusion, plumbing is a very broad subject that covers a lot of everyday home improvements.
There are some right ways and wrong ways to do it, but there is so much room for learning.
Hopefully, this article gave you some advice on how to make plumbing work for you.