Article by-Carstens Pate
Now's the time to expand your knowledge of plumbing. The thought has crossed your mind before, but you did not make the time to do it. Take the time now to read this article and get started with understanding plumbing, so that you will know what to do should you have an issue.
Act quickly if your pipes freeze! Shut off the water and open the faucet, enabling it to drain when it thaws. Starting with the faucet, and working your way to the iced-up area, aim a propane torch or hairdryer at the pipe - this will quickly defrost it. You could also wrap the pipe in a heating pad or aim a heat lamp at it, but this will take quite some time. A last resort is to wrap the pipe in rags and pour boiling water over it.
The next time you have a clogged drain, avoid the simple solution of dumping drain-clearing chemicals into the pipes. While this method involves the least amount of effort, the chemicals in these liquid cleaners are destructive to your piping. Instead, consider using a little bit of elbow grease with a plunger, snake, or other device designed to clear your clog without chemicals.
To avoid having your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter, detach all hoses before the first freeze. Also, close
linked here that leads to the outdoor faucets, then turn on the outdoor faucets to let any remaining water in the lines drain. Once temperatures warm up in the spring, you can reverse the process.
If your water is coming out black, then most likely you have an iron and magnesium issue to your water. You need to contact a water softener company, and get them to come out and assess your water. They will be able to fix the problem by adding a water softener.
Don't skimp on quality when it comes to replacing a shower head. Some people think they can get away with the cheapest version at the store. However, they are inexpensive for a reason, this being that they are cheaply made and tend to break a lot easier.
Clean your dryer's lint trap. This will help your dryer to work better and may also prevent fires. Be sure to check the trap for tears and rips, because this can cause bigger problems as it may mean that lint is escaping into your pipes.
To lower the chance that you will have issues with your toilet, do not approach it like it's a trash can. Don't flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, diapers or cotton balls, because these items don't break down and may cause clogging issues. You will also want to use the least amount of toilet paper as required.
In cold climate areas, sometimes the pipes in the plumbing system freeze. You can thaw them out without calling a plumber. Before beginning this process, open the faucet and begin thawing closest to the faucet and then move down the line as sections thaw out. One method you can use is to wrap the pipe with a heavy towel or burlap and then pour hot water over it, set a bucket underneath to catch the water.
If your sewer and main lines keep clogging up, then it is very possible that you have a tree root blockage problem. There are over the counter products you can buy to attempt to get rid of this problem. This is very effective, yet the problem is usually very extensive. Therefore, it may require a professional to come out and solve the problem completely.
To make sure there is no accident or sudden rush of water when you tackle a plumbing project, make sure you are ready for a cleanup. If you go into the work with a huge stack of towels and blankets ready to absorb water, the prospect of needing to actually do it will keep you alert enough to avoid triggering the accident in the first place.
To be successful in any plumbing project, make sure you turn the water off before you start unscrewing pipes. This tip might actually sound insulting, but you are probably getting caught up in having the right tools and parts and being dressed right. Double check that there is not a splash waiting for you. Then triple and quadruple check.
If you need a plumber, be certain to do some research first. Some plumbers aren't experienced enough to work on certain issues, and it's possible they may make things worse. Find some reviews of your local plumbers, or ask around to see if anyone has any recommendations or warnings.
As we near the winter months, you should check that none of your outdoor faucets are drippy or leaking water. If water is continually dripping, you need to make some repairs on your own before the temperature drops below freezing. Whatever material your pipes are built from, very cold water pressure can make pipes crack. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood your entire home.
If you can see water dripping in or near your walls, shut off the water and call a professional right away. This usually indicates a serious plumbing problem. The possible consequences, including floods, mold, and mildew, are all dire.
Run dishwashers and washing machines at night, or during times when people are not using that much water. This will keep water pressure strong for showers and other things, while making sure that dishwashing and laundry still takes place in a timely manner. It also preserves energy costs and use.
Teach kids how to shut off the toilet's water supply. Kids are notorious for putting large wads of toilet paper and other things into the toilet, which inevitably leads to the toilet overflowing. Especially if your bathroom has carpet, show kids how to turn the water valve off if the toilet water keeps rising, to prevent the mess of an overflow.
An important plumbing-related decision that must be made these days is the choice between an electric water heater or a gas water heater. In these times with gas costing as much as it does, it is more cost efficient to buy an electric water heater, especially if you have a smaller water heater.
Be
Suggested Reading to have a running toilet fixed as soon as you can. Having a running toilet uses more water, which raises your water bill. To fix it yourself, you just have to find out what the problem is and buy the supplies you need. If you can't fix it yourself, call a plumber.
In conclusion, it is important to know what to watch out for so that you do not find yourself underwater when it comes to plumbing issues. Use the great advice provided to you in this article and you will be glad that you took the extra few minutes to further your knowledge.