Some tips on how to start with plumbing makes a great start for beginners. Below are some tips that will hopefully assist you into making better decisions and to start maintaining your own home system. You need it to work effectively so it is to your benefit to learn something from these tips.
Avoid frozen pipes this winter! Keep a small trickle of water dripping from faucets and wrap your uninsulated pipes with foam or newspaper. If possible keep the doors open between unheated and heated rooms. In an unheated area such as a garage or laundry room keep a small heater next to the pipes. Remember to do this before the first cold snap hits.
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.
Certain things shouldnt go into your plumbing system. By knowing what you can and cannot flush or throw into the garbage disposal and sink you can save yourself from a costly repair or disaster. A plumber can usually get your plumbing back into working condition but can be avoided if you know how to dispose of items correctly.
Try to limit the amount of hair that goes down your drains. Hair can become tangled up in the pipe and end up blocking up the them preventing water from flowing smoothly. Buy a cheap screened drain cover to put over your drain to stop any hair from going down and clean it off regularly.
Be sure that you check on your water meter when it is not being used. Then check on the meter 8 hours later. If the meter has changed even a small amount this could be a sign that there is an undetected water leak which can be a severe problem.
Believe it or not it is not a very good idea to use a plunger if your toilet is clogged. Plungers just push whatever is stuck deeper into the drain. Instead it is a better idea to use a closet auger. It will do a better job and is affordable.
There are simple ways to check your toilet for leaks that can ultimately lead to great cost savings in the long run. The easiest way to do this is to pour a small amount of food dye into the holding tank of your toilet overnight. In the morning if you have any color in the basin then you know you have a leak that needs some attention.
If sewage is backed up in your toilet its most likely the result of a sever blockage of the branch line that connects the sewage line and main line. A professional can help if you cant clear the problem yourself. They will use a plumbing snake to get rid of the clog.
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.