Content written by-Strange Langston
Professional plumbing is often a very expensive service, and usually the work that is done is something that any homeowner could solve fairly easily with the proper knowledge and tools. If you'd like to start learning to solve your own plumbing problems, read on to see what you can do.
Obnoxiously loud pipes that like to squeal and hammer are easy situations to correct. You must anchor any type of exposed pipe. Enlisting the aid of a professional may be necessary if any of the pipes are located in the floors, walls, or ceiling.
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.
To winterize a house that will sit unused during the winter months, you must completely drain all of the pipes. After turning off the main water supply, let all of the water drain from the faucets, toilets, and water heater (turn off the gas). Add a quart of antifreeze to sinks and the tub to prevent water from freezing in the drain trap.
Routinely check your appliance connections and faucets around the house for any kind of obvious leaks or nearby signs of moisture.
http://diverhaven.com/news/happy-customer-gives-midwest-plumbing-indianapolis-a-grateful-five-star-review-detailing-the-experience/0279285/ do even the smallest leaks lead to a large waste of water and money, they also can lead to damage to your home or even the development of harmful molds.
If your garbage disposal stops working, never try to fix it by reaching down with your hands. Garbage disposals pose a serious risk, even when flipped off. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner's manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner's manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
Choose enzyme based cleaners if your pipes get clogged. These cleaners use natural bacteria to turn the sludge into a liquid, and remove it from your pipes. Enzyme cleaners should be your first choice.
Keep an eye on the hoses for your dishwasher and washing machine. These hoses can leak and bulge, which can be a problem. Check them for signs of wear and tear and replace any hoses more than 10 years old. You'll find that these hoses age well, but you have got to make sure they are doing the job they should.
If you find that your pipes have frozen during the cold winter months open all the faucets in your home. This lowers the water pressure for when the pipes thaw and the water is freely flowing again. Make sure to open all the faucets not just those that are frequently used.
Watch out for decreased levels of intensity in the water flow in your bathroom. This can be a sign of calcium or mineral deposits disrupting water flow. If spotted early enough it may be possible to remedy this without having to replace the pipes.
Garbage disposals are a common cause of plumbing problems, which is an easy problem to solve. Don't just put everything down the disposal or treat it like a second trash can. Use the disposal things that would be difficult to dispose of normally. Putting all leftover food down the sink is a good way to produce clogs.
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.
Be sure 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.
Regular maintenance of your plumbing lines is a great idea. Your options are getting your lines snaked or jetted. Jetted is a technology that is proven more effective than snaking is. It gets deeper and cleans harder. So jetting is a good idea next time you are having maintenance performed on your lines.
Is your shower pressure weak due to clogging of the openings in your shower head? Here is a simple and cost-effective tip to take care of that problem. Pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the shower head, and twist tie it into place so it can soak overnight. In the morning, remove the plastic bag and use an old toothbrush to scrub off the mineral deposits which are clogging the openings. This will help to restore water flow and increase shower pressure.
If you hear loud, vibrating noises coming from your pipes, you may want to consider adding air chambers to the end of the pipes and tightening them. Usually, these noises are caused from opening and closing faucets too quickly and tightening the pipes and adding air chambers can fix this problem.
Mold growing at the base of your toilet can indicate that condensation is forming on your toilet bowl thanks to room temperature versus bowl and water temperature, or that you have a leak in the wax seal around your toilet. To replace the wax seal, turn off the water to the toilet, disconnect from the water supply and then lift the toilet and replace the ring.
sewer and drain cleaning is setting the toilet back down on the ring correctly. Buy an extra ring in case you mess up and to avoid having to run to the hardware store in the middle of the job.
If you are in need of a new bathtub, try to get one that is made of porcelain enamel. These kinds of tubs do require precise and proper care, but their advantage is that they are able to withstand the chemicals that are found in many bathtub cleaning products.
Keep water trickling slightly from faucets to help prevent frozen pipes when the temperature drops significantly. Colder than normal temperatures can cause problems if pipes are not insulated appropriately, even when pipes are not exposed to the elements. By leaving the water running slightly, you keep movement in the pipes which can prevent freezing.
As you can see, plumbing isn't so scary when you know what to do. Follow the tips you've read here next time you have a problem with your plumbing, and soon your problem will be solved, all without having to call an expensive plumber to fix the problem for you.