If you've ever hired a professional plumber for something simple you know how expensive and annoying the experience can be. If you'd like to save a little cash by learning how to solve your own plumbing problems read on. This article will give you the knowledge you need for your own plumbing repair.
Find a plumber that you can trust. Make sure to get referrals from friends and family so that you can prevent getting ripped off which happens often. Also make sure not to pay the plumber before the work is completed. If you do that there will not be an incentive to get the job completed in a timely manner.
Rigid copper is used for main water lines in many homes. You cannot bend rigid copper so joints and tees must be soldered on. When soldering always apply flux (also called soldering paste) to both surfaces. Flux retards oxidation when the copper is heated. Always use lead-free or nearly lead-free solder when sweating a copper joint.
Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shut off valve is and that they know how to work it. That way if there is a water problem anyone in your household can turn off the water thereby reducing the chances that your home will incur major water damage.
To help you find a good plumber you should get recommendations from people whom you trust. Asking a friend or a neighbor is usually more trustworthy than picking a random plumber out of the phone book. You need a competent plumber otherwise you could be in for a much bigger problem down the road.
When you're going away on a vacation you should consider shutting off the water supply to your home. This can help stop many problems before they start. If you don't do this you should have someone stop by your house regularly to check that nothing has gone wrong and that your home isn't flooded.
To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to do the repair yourself but if not you may have to seek the services of a plumber to make the repairs.
Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain. Grease and oil can build up in your pipes and cause a backup. Instead wait for the grease or oil to cool and solidify and either throw it away or see if there's a place to recycle it near your home.
Work with plumbers that offer flat rates. When a plumber is charging by the hour they do not have an incentive to get the job done quickly. It is human nature to go just a little bit slower if it'll mean extra money in our pockets. If you cannot find someone who charges per project make sure that you are vigilant in watching the clock and their work.
To prevent pipe banging when you turn on the water think about rubber blankets or straps. Instead of assuming the pipes need replaced consider anchoring them or buffering them. If your pipes are plastic leave them some room for expansion and contraction. If pipes do not leak but just make noise eliminate the noise.
Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example if you are a female do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber or even worse a whole new toilet!
When searching for a good plumber you should always check references. It is easy to just go with the lowest price but you have to do your research and make sure the plumber has a good reputation with the people they have done work for in the past so you do not get a bad plumber.
Governmental regulations sometimes prevent plumbers from actively providing maintenance to copper piping. If you have a calcium buildup in your copper piping you are going to need to take care of this yourself. You have to get rid of all the water and add vinegar which eats away the calcium buildup out of copper pipes.
If the drain stack for your washing machine overflows try snaking it with a standard pipe snake. Lint coins paper and other small items can get expelled in the wash leading to a drain clog.
When facing temperatures below freezing in the winter it is important to leave the hot water dripping. This makes sure that the pipes don't freeze over and saves you the expensive repair of fixing and or entirely replacing a broken pipe. The slight cost of dripping hot water is well worth saving you from that large expense of replacing a broken pipe.
If you think you understand what is wrong with your toilet but aren't sure you should first do some more research on the internet. Most plumbing problems are fairly standard and you should be able to read about the problem in great detail on several amateur plumber forums to make sure you understand the problem.
Never flush menstrual products such as pads or tampons even if the box says its okay. These products can cause major clogs in your plumbing that cannot be removed with a simple plunger. Ensure that all women in your household understand the importance of placing these items in an appropriate receptacle.
Many people complain of low water pressure. While there are several things that can cause this one must not be overlooked when starting your investigation. What kind of pipes do you have? If your piping is galvanized you are better off just replacing your piping which will eliminate the issue.
As you can see maintaining and repairing your own plumbing isn't as difficult as it may appear at first glance. It just requires doing research getting documents in order and asking a lot of questions. The work will pay off once you see how it can help save you money.
Upper Lonsdale is a suburban area in both the City and District of North Vancouver. This area runs north of Highway 1 to the corner of Lonsdale and Rockland. The first 5 blocks up Lonsdale Avenue are part of the City of North Vancouver, while the remaining blocks belong to the District of North Vancouver.
Address: 1764 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2J7, Canada
Address: 2045 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2K4, Canada
Address: 1933 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2K2, Canada