If youve ever hired a professional plumber for something simple you know how expensive and annoying the experience can be. If youd 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.
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.
Use the sounds you hear from your pipes to help you to determine what they problem is. Certain sounds mean the water pressure is too high. Other sounds can signify loose pipes or slight clogs from calcium or iron build up. Listening to your pipes can save you a lot of money hunting down the problem.
If you have a pipe that freezes you should turn on the faucet that is close to the pipe; this way the water has a place to go. This relieves the pressure contained in the pipe as it also prevents it from bursting which would reduce the damage done to your house.
If water backs up from one sink to another it is because the lines are connected. The part of the branch line for one device might be higher than another but most likely there is also a blockage in the branch line connecting the two devices as well. This blockage must be cleaned.
Use your garbage disposal with the cold water running so that you can preserve the blades of the disposal. Using hot water makes grease more liquid and can cause problems including clogs. Make sure to clean blades by putting in a little dish detergent and run cold water at the same time.
Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. Overflow holes are one of those things which you forget about until you need them. Make cleaning debris from the overflow holes part of your regular routine of maintaining your plumbing and checking it for problems and required repairs.
Make sure to pour a gallon or two of water into drains that are used infrequently. Not only does this make sure that they are clear when you need them but can also fill the trap and make sure that unpleasant odors dont enter your home. Doing this periodically will also help you to catch problems before they become serious.
Ask before the plumber comes out if they charge for the consultation. In order to quote a project the plumber has to come out to inspect your particular issue. It is standard to charge for the consultation appointment but the prices can vary wildly. Ask upfront so that you arent surprised by the total.
Isnt doing your own plumbing a lot of fun? As you have seen in this article there are a lot of ways this can be done and no two techniques or equipemnt will yield the same results. There are also lots of customizable options that can work with your home and budget.