Plumbing problems can be quite a headache for a homeowner not familiar with how to fix plumbing. It can take a lot of time and money when it comes to hiring a professional plumber. If you know what to do, you can tackle some simple plumbing tasks. Keep reading to arm yourself with some very useful plumbing advice!
If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Anchoring exposed pipes will decrease the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. You might want to contact a professional when the pipes are hard to access.
Wait until a job is done before you pay for it. Sometimes plumbers will request a cash deposit before any work can commence; however, you avoid paying the total bill until the whole job has been finished to your satisfaction. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.
While various toilet tablets and odor removers may be tempting, it’s best not to use them in your toilet. These may deodorize, but they can seriously damage the rubber pieces in the toilet, causing poor functionality or even complete breakdown of the fixture.
If you have a clogged toiled with a lower water lever, and the plunger isn’t working, try pouring in some warm water directly into the toilet. Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water returns back to a lower level.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Stand above the toilet with a foot positioned on each side up close to the base. Shift your weight back and forth to detect any weakness or sponginess. 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.
A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Your kitchen sink strainer must be cleaned whenever it catches anything. Those in the bathtub should be cleaned out periodically, as needed.
Orange or pink discoloration on your bathroom fixtures is a solid indication that your water contains too much iron. A water softener will take care of the issue. This can either be done by yourself, or you can hire a professional to come and take care of.
You can greatly extend the life of your garbage disposal by regularly cleaning it. If your garbage disposal begins to emit a bad smell, run some dish detergent and citrus rinds through the cycle to make it smell fresher.
An incorrectly installed hose from the kitchen sink to the dishwasher can cause unwanted water to drain into the dishwasher. You must have the hose going uphill and then down to get rid of the water in the dishwater.
Don’t use drain cleaners constantly. Drain cleaners contain caustic and damaging chemicals which can destroy your pipes if used too often. Especially in cases where you have a drain that clogs repeatedly, getting a professional plumber in to examine the situation may be your best option.
Clean out plugs can be extremely tricky to remove; they tend to stick easily. Here are two ways you can use to deal with a stubborn plug. You can loosen the fitting around the plug using a hammer and chisel. You can also use your chisel to break the plug itself.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
