Taking a step into the wondrous and complex land of plumbing for the very first time might feel a bit daunting. However by keeping the helpful tips listed below in mind you will soon find yourself plumbing on par with some of the best plumbers in the field and maintaining your own easily.
Avoid plumbing problems! Do not stop up the toilet! Some common items that will stop up a toilet include: toys hair paper towels birth control items and feminine personal products. Do not flush these items down your toilet - unless the instructions say otherwise! These can stop up your toilet - to the point that nothing else will work - except calling a plumber!
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.
If a pipe ever freezes you need to make sure to shut off the water. This will keep the pipe from bursting and causing you major damage to your home. Make sure to shut the water off at the main valve and then open the faucet that is closest to the frozen pipe so it can drain while it is thawing out.
Periodically check your pipes for leaks and cracks. These can be forgotten since pipes are usually hidden away but checking for leaks and cracks can help you identify a small problem before a big problem occurs. You may have to enlist the help of a family member to turn on and off the water stream as you are checking.
Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water it does not take much of a temperature change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a hard-to-reach clog forming in the future.
Heat up frozen pipes carefully if they have frozen. In colder regions pipes placed closest to outer walls and ceilings could freeze if not properly insulated. Use hot rags hot water a blow dryer or similar heat source. Start heating at a place nearest the tap then work backwards.
If you run your garbage disposal after working in the kitchen use a large quantity of cold water. The blades on the unit will remain sharper and disposal will proceed with few glitches. Hot water liquifies grease and causes it to buildup in the drain causing clogs in the pipes.
Make sure that any exposed pipes in your home are insulated especially those found in crawl spaces on the outside walls of your home. This will help keep them from freezing and causing you tons of problems. Frozen pipes can often be devastating and leave you with problems that are expensive to fix and no water in the middle of winter.
Now is the perfect chance to make plumbing work for you! Dont worry; it can be personally tailored for just your home. After reading these previous tips you should have seen that techniques and equipment are numerous and that anyone can can apply them to their plumbing jobs. It just takes research and experimentation.