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A problem with your plumbing can happen anytime. If it does, you need to know what to do about it. It is possible for you to take care of many of these problems on your own. Here are some helpful tips to teach you how to handle plumbing problems yourself.
Avoid frozen pipes this winter! Keep a small trickle of water dripping from faucets, and wrap your uninsulated pipes with foam or newspaper. If possible, keep the doors open between unheated and heated rooms. In an unheated area such as a garage or laundry room, keep a small heater next to the pipes. Remember to do this before the first cold snap hits.
If a pipe ever freezes, you need to make sure to shut off the water. This will keep the pipe from bursting and causing you major damage to your home. Make
http://jefferson72carma.blogzet.com/strong-recommendations-for-handling-a-damaged-pipe-26848626 to shut the water off at the main valve, and then open the faucet that is closest to the frozen pipe so it can drain while it is thawing out.
In
http://lorelei1narcisa.blogminds.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-doing-your-own-plumbing-10254059 to avoid unsightly and unnecessary clogs in your shower, invest in a drain strainer. This cost-effective addition to your shower will gather your hair before it makes it to the drain, and limit the chances that you will find yourself showering while standing in a clogged up mess.
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.
click this over here now may have to enlist the help of a family member to turn on and off the water stream as you are checking.
To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to do the repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek the services of a plumber to make the repairs.
Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from sliding down your drain and causing clogs. Your kitchen sink strainer must be cleaned whenever it catches anything. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.
Make sure that your tool box is ready for any project you are preparing to do. The last thing you want is to be knee deep in a job only to find that you are missing the one tool you need to finish. Be sure to have various sizes of pipe wrenches that can be used to complete any job.
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.
When chilly weather approaches, it is time to disconnect your water hoses from your outside faucets. If you forget to do this, water in the hoses can freeze and expand. This can cause the faucets and the connecting pipes inside your house to freeze and break. By simply rolling up your garden hoses and storing them for the winter, you can help prevent costly plumbing repairs.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you want to consider getting a spring-loaded timer which can be attached directly to your hose. This prevents your lawn from getting too much water in case you forget to turn your system off. Getting too much water could kill your grass and plants.
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Check for leaks behind the wall tile in your bathroom, especially any tile surrounding your bathtub, by gently pressing each tile and feeling for some give. If you find any mushy or soft spots, you will need to find the source of the leak and repair it to prevent further damage.
To check for toilet leaks, especially if it seems like your toilet is chronically running, use a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If water is leaking into the bowl, you will see color in about a half hour. Replacing tank parts can repair leaks and greatly save on water consumption.
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Periodically, make sure that the sump pump in your house is working to full capacity. Pour a few gallons of water into the sump pit, and your pump should drain that water out with minimal issues. Checking that your devices are working throughout the year can pay large dividends in the event of a crisis.
If you think you understand what is wrong with your toilet, but aren't sure, you should first do some more research on the internet. Most plumbing problems are fairly standard, and you should be able to read about the problem in great detail on several amateur plumber forums to make sure you understand the problem.
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Never pour grease of any kind down your kitchen drains, especially grease from animal sources, which tends to harden rather quickly. The grease can congeal in your pipes and cause disastrous clogs and back-ups. It's better to dispose of grease in the trash to keep your drains flowing well.
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."
Plumbing is a field that is full of amateurs, so if you are a professional, you may want to look into taking on an apprentice. Not only will you be able to get cheaper labor done, you will also be teaching a beginner everything they need to know to be successful.
Calling a plumber for every issue will add up to a huge bill, so it's important to deal with small plumbing issues yourself as they arise. If you own your own home, you should know some basic plumbing skills, and have the tools ready to go. The tips you learned here will assist you in dealing with whatever plumbing problems you encounter in the future.