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Advice On How To Handle A Plumbing Problem
Advice On How To Handle A Plumbing Problem
Did you know that you run the risk of freezing your plumbing pipes if you have any rooms that are not heated? This can sometimes come unexpectedly because you expect the adjoining rooms of your house to stay warm enough. For this and other plumbing tips read the rest of this article.
As the weather begins to get cold attend to all of your exposed pipes by adding insulation to them. Pay particular attention to pipes located in crawl spaces and the outside walls of your residence. Taking this step will help ensure that your pipes continue to function throughout the winter.
Make sure you know where your homes water shutoff is located. You never know when there might be an emergency involving a broken pipe or damaged connection that requires you to turn off the water right away. In addition knowing where the shutoff is located is vital before you start any plumbing project in case anything goes wrong.
You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch of the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.
Make a schedule for plumbing work so it occurs all at approximately the same time. You might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit you can save up money for repairs. Another reason it lowers costs is that plumbers bill per hour worked and due to partial hour effects doing all the work at once results in lower billable hours.
Make sure overflow holes are cleaned out. This can help to prevent any water damage. Overflow holes are a way to stop water from overflowing if a sink is left on by accident. If the overflow hole is clogged it will not be able to do its job.
Make sure that you disconnect all hoses outside your house when the fall season hits. This is important to reduce the chance of freezing which can cause damage to the connecting pipes. Disconnect all of your water hoses and store them safely to put your family in the best position for the fall.
If you have problems with a slow drain there are easier things you can do other than removing the pipes to clean it. There are certain tools made just for this purpose that you insert into the drain to loosen the clog so it washes away or grab it and remove it completely.
When looking for a plumber you have quite a few options. Ask friends for recommendations of who they use. Check online for plumbers with good reviews and references. Use your yellow pages and look under "Plumbing Contractors" or "Plumbing Drain and Sewer Cleaning". Make sure that you contact more than one plumber before making a choice.
To avoid sediment buildup drain gallons of water from your water heater to flush any corrosion. This will help your heater to run more efficiently therefore saving you regular energy costs. Make sure to read your heaters instructions before attempting this and do this periodically to make sure that your heater is running as well as it can.
If water is flooding your home immediately switch off the main electrical power. If water comes into contact with any electrical components it can become a fatal situation. Once the power is off then deal with the flood water. Put your own and your family's personal safety first and show each member of the family how to shut off the power.
Before embarking on a plumbing project make sure that you're aware of where the shutoff valve for water in your home is as well as the valves for shutting off individual structures like sinks toilets etc. This way if something goes wrong you'll be able to stop the water flow.
When you wash your hands be sure that you have not left any soap on the faucet handles. What people do not know is that leaving soap on these fixtures can cause fixtures to corrode. Just take two seconds after you are done washing your hands to remove excess soap from the handles.
Tank-less water heaters are a great space saving alternative to traditional tank units. They are available in many models some for indoors and some models are capable for outdoor mounting. Tank-less water heaters are known as great money savers when it comes to your water bill.
Protect you plumbing pipes! If you live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The water heater in your home needs to have regular flushing to its plumbing in order to work properly. There is usually a valve at the bottom of the water heater that a hose can be attached to. Connect a hose to this valve and open it up all the way to flush scale and deposits out of the system.
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 can see water dripping in or near your walls shut off the water and call a professional right away. This indicates a serious plumbing problem. Water within walls can cause not just flooding but also toxic mold or mildew.
As was discussed at the beginning of the article while plumbing can be an extremely difficult chore for anyone to complete it becomes significantly easier if you have the right advice and information. Use the advice from this article and you'll be on your way to doing your own plumbing.
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