Many homeowners experience plumbing issues at one point or another. The majority of the time, these problems will be in the kitchen or bathroom. Eventually, nearly every homeowner has to face one type of plumbing issue or another. Following is some advice to guide you when that occurs.Don’t let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. Pipes will begin to freeze as soon as they reach freezing temperatures. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
While it may seem like a seemingly harmless thing to do, never run potato peels through your garbage disposal. The chemical make up of this seemingly harmless food allows the potato to turn into a thick, viscous substance that can wreak havoc on the disposal itself, with the potential to render it completely useless.
Never pour grease down the kitchen-sink drain. This will help you avoid clogs in your kitchen sink. Place grease in a can or other receptacles and dispose of in the trash. Grease that has congealed on pots, and pans can be wiped off with paper towels that can be thrown in the trash.
If you get grout in your pipes, you won’t be able to get it out by yourself. You can break the grout up and make it go further down the line. This works better when you have plastic pipes as opposed to metal ones. However, this problem usually requires the help of a plumber.
Do not use a drain cleaner if you can help it. The chemicals in those kinds of drain cleaners can be corrosive and might damage pipes if you keep using them. If you discover that you have a blocked drain, the best course of action is to hire a professional to call by and examine it for you.
Look online for reviews of the plumbing contractor you are thinking of hiring. If people are not satisfied with the work that the plumber preforms, many times they will go on the internet and post negative reviews. If they are happy with the plumber they will also post positive reviews.
If you are having any kind of problems with your water line or plumbing in general then you will first want to cut of your water supply. One of the most common mistakes that people make is to leave their water running while they are trying to fix things and this leads to bigger problems.
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 you are deciding to work on a plumbing project yourself, first make a list of all of the tools and items that you could possibly need. After this, make sure that you have all of these things close at hand. There is nothing worse than almost finishing a project, but not having the correct screw.
As tempting as it may be to try and save on the heating bill, keep your furnace set no lower than 55 degrees over the winter to prevent inside pipes from freezing. If you have pipes located in an excessively cold basement, consider running a space heater in the basement, but only when it can be checked on frequently.
It is imperative as a homeowner that you know exactly where your main water shut-off valve is located and can operate the valve in case of an emergency. The best first step measure for frozen pipes is to stop water from entering your home in the first place. Locate the main water supply valve and turn it on and off on a regular basis to keep it easily operable in an emergency.
You should consider getting a stainless steel sink if you are in need of a new sink. Stainless steel sinks are much better than other ones for many reasons. They are more durable, they absorb shock, they are easier to clean, and they go with almost any decor.
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.
Sticky substances like bananas, chicken skin and pumpkin pulp can clog your drain even if they go through the blades. Separate items that are not going in the garbage disposal from those that are when you are ready to dispose of trash. Put banana peels and similar items in your trash can and scrape the rest of your trash into the garbage disposal.
Are you looking for a simple tip to determine if your toilet has a hidden leak? Here is one that is not only simple, it also will not make a big dent in your wallet. Simply add six drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If your toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
Being unprepared when an issue with plumbing strikes is not advisable. Every homeowner should arm themselves with a few basic plumbing tools and repair tips. The next time something goes wrong, you’ll be ready.
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