Got a leaky pipe? In many cases you can repair this yourself without the expense of a plumber. If a ...

1. Revealing Plumbing Programs
Got a leaky pipe? In many cases you can repair
this yourself without the expense of a plumber.
If a joint is leaking, tighten it with a pipe
wrench. If the leak is coming from a damaged
section of pipe, you can try repairing with a
store-bought patching kit. One method involves
applying waterproof tape to the section of pipe
where there is leakage. Before applying the
tape, make sure the pipe is thoroughly dry.
Make sure that the tape covers two to three
inches on either side of the breakage in the
pipe.
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.
To clear mineral deposits from your showerhead, try a soak in white vinegar. Simply add a cup or
two of vinegar to a plastic bag and tape it around the showerhead, ensuring that it is submerged.
Leave the bag on for an hour, and the vinegar will dissolve the mineral build-up, allowing water to
gush through like it was when it was new.
If water is flowing out from where your meter is located, a professional is required to come out and
fix the leak. If your water bill goes up, this is most likely because the leak is on the house side of the
water meter. You will need to get a professional to come out and fix the leak.
When replacing any PVC type pipes in your home, make sure you buy the correct PVC for the job.
PVC comes in several different sizes and grades as well as for different temperature applications. If
the water going through the pipes is headed for the kitchen or bathroom, or is for laundry or
gardening usage, it must be labeled as "Potable."
Keep your garbage disposal clean to make sure it lasts for awhile. By regularly "cleaning" the
disposal with lemon rinds, cherry pits and dish soap, you can make sure that your garbage disposal
is running well and smelling so clean it could be new.
If you are looking into becoming a plumber, there are a few things that you should know first. The
most important thing is that plumbers who work for companies do not make a high salary. You
should try to find a way to work for yourself, in order to increase your earnings.
Beware of black water in your toilet tank. Chances are, the color is caused from too much
magnesium or iron in your water. Although this is usually harmless, it can be annoying for some
people. If it is iron or magnesium in your water, the only way to fix it is by filtering the water.

2. One of the most inexpensive plumbing issues is a running toilet. Simply by understanding how a
toilet actually functions is the first best tool in avoiding a running toilet. If you understand the
function of the lever and floater, you will be able to fix any running toilet in no time.
Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain. Grease and oil can build up in your pipes
and cause a backup. Instead, wait for the grease or oil to cool and solidify and either throw it away
or see if there's a place to recycle it near your home.
It is common for plumbing problems to start right after you buy your home. The kitchen and the
bathroom are the most common places that plumbing problems occur. Really, at some point every
homeowner will deal with some kind of plumbing problem. Continue on for some helpful tips so you
can take care of these problems if they happen.
If the pipes have burst in an upstairs area, use a tool to perforate the ceiling underneath in several
places and places pots and pans under to catch the water. If this is not done, the weight of the
accumulating water could cause a collapse of the entire ceiling.
If you own property where the temperature gets below freezing for an extended amount of time each
year, you should make sure that pipes located in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces and garages,
are insulated. Pipes that are exposed to the outside elements or those that are prone to freezing,
should be protected by heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables to prevent them from
freezing.
You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring, Kool Aid or some coffee
grounds to the water in the toilet's tank (not the water in the bowl). Check the water in the bowl
after a half hour or so. If any of the coloring agent is visible in the water in the bowl, the tank is
leaking, and you will have to have it repaired.
To help you find a good plumber, you should get recommendations from people whom you trust.
Asking a friend or a neighbor is usually more trustworthy than picking a random plumber out of the
phone book. You need a competent plumber, otherwise you could be in for a much bigger problem
down the road.
To protect your money from unsavory plumbers, always get a written estimate before paying a cent
or committing to a project. Good businessmen know to under-promise and over-deliver to savvy
customers. Once a stated number is given, it is highly unlikely that your plumber will exceed the
projected costs of the project.
In conclusion, nobody wants to be caught off guard with plumbing issues especially in the cold
winter time. Use the great advice in this article for some of the best ways to prevent pluming issues
and stop them once they have started. Ideally, you will be able to understand the concepts provided
here well enough to pass on to others.
If you have drains in your house that have not been used for a long period of time, pour one gallon of
water through them to keep them functional. Furthermore, this will have the added benefit of
reducing any odors from entering your house from lack of use during the year.
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.