How knowledgeable are you about plumbing? If you do, do you wish to improve upon it? Do you feel like you are skilled? If you cannot answer these questions confidently, look at the tips below.
You need to insulate any pipes have exposure to outside elements to avoid them freezing. You should also keep the temperature in the home above freezing to avoid your pipes freezing. The pipes will be able to freeze if the temperature surrounding the pipes drops below freezing. It can take a while for the pipes to thaw, which means you will not be able to run water for quite some time. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. This keeps the tank from developing a buildup of sediment, thereby preventing the septic system from backing up or failing altogether as a result. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean or treat your toilet. They may get rid of toilet odors, but they can damage the rubber in the toilet, which can cause it to break down completely or to not function at all.
If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. Repeat this as many times as necessary until your clog is gone, and you can flush normally once again.
Floor Damage
Check your floors for softness around toilets, so that you can ascertain if there is any floor damage. Straddle the toilet, so you can rock from one leg to another to determine whether there’s weakness in the floor. It’s important to catch and address floor damage problems as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair will be.
Don’t put things like fat, oil or grease down your drains. Oils will eventually harden and clog up your drain. This can make your garbage disposal run slower. Keep a container in your kitchen that is used specifically for discarded grease.
If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, then you can be sure that the culprit is iron in your water. A water softener can filter out unnecessary minerals, and leave you with clean, usable water.
Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. It might be tempting to call up a plumber every time you have a small problem, but if you will save all the plumbing issues for one time, it can be helpful. It will allow you save the money for the repairs. You’ll save a ton of money by not having to pay a professional to come out multiple times, instead only paying them to show up once to handle different problems all at once.
Efficient Shower
Install low flush toilets and energy efficient shower heads and faucets to reduce your utility bills. Most hot water is consumed in our showers. By installing an energy-efficient shower head that might cost a few dollars, you could save at least $100 a year per person who showers in your house.
Enzyme-based cleaners are the best bet for unclogging stubborn clogged pipes. The natural enzymes in these cleaners dissolve the clog, turning it into liquid, freeing it from the pipes. The best these days are the enzyme cleaners.
When you have to take out the clean out plug, but it is not coming out, you can remove it using one of two ways. The first one is to use a hammer and chisel to attempt loosening the fitting. You can also chisel into the plug.
Do you know more about plumbing than you previously did? Do you have more of an understanding on what kind of plumbing system is in your home? What is your level of ability? Do you know how to choose things that will work with your home’s system? Do you know more about using the tools? Hopefully, you are better prepared to answer these questions and tackle your own plumbing projects after reading this article.