Plumbers North Vancouver
Great Plumbing Advice You Should Be Aware Of
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.
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!
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.
Knowing your tools and how to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Read manuals and do some research on the internet before starting a plumbing project. Plan thoroughly before attempting a repair. Mistakes can be very expensive to fix.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. This type of cleaner uses natural bacteria to transform sludge into liquid that makes it disappear from the pipes. The best options on the market now are enzyme cleaners.
Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. The strainer in the kitchen sink should be cleaned each time you have large particles trapped in it. Kitchen filters should be changed often while bathtub filters can be changed as needed.
Check to make sure that the walls behind the tiles in your bathroom are not soft. Push into the tiles to confirm that the foundation is firm and robust. If the area is delicate and brittle there is a good chance that water has created damage behind the tiles over time.
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 don't enter your home. Doing this periodically will also help you to catch problems before they become serious.
Everyone in your home should know where the main water shut off valve is. By knowing where to find this valve you'll be able to shut off the water in the event a pipe bursts a bathtub or toilet overflows or any other emergency that requires you to turn off the water.
If your sewer and main lines keep clogging up then it is very possible that you have a tree root blockage problem. There are over the counter products you can buy to attempt to get rid of this problem. This is very effective yet the problem is usually very extensive. Therefore it may require a professional to come out and solve the problem completely.
When leaving on vacation or leaving your vacation home be sure to turn off the main water before you leave. If something happens while you are gone you can cause some serious damage from a flooded basement or a broken pipe in the wall that leaks for weeks until you return.
Have a specific plumber in mind before you have an emergency. Most people don't think about plumbers until they find themselves having a big problem that needs to be fixed right away. Instead choose a plumber who you are comfortable with and whose experience you trust--way before you actually need his services.
Plumbing is not limited to water. Many skills are needed to be a plumber with expertise. Fixing water lines is among the most common fixes a plumber does.
The key to finding a great plumber for new construction is to look at their prior jobs. Good plumbers take pride in the work they do so they will have photos and references from previous jobs. If the plumber you are considering hiring does not have references or photos of previous jobs then stay away and find another.
Be sure to have a running toilet fixed as soon as you can. Having a running toilet uses more water which raises your water bill. To fix it yourself you just have to find out what the problem is and buy the supplies you need. If you cant fix it yourself call a plumber.
If you see a pipe coming out of the drainage pipe when putting in your new water heater reconnect it before you finish the job. It is usually a recirculation pipe. This pipe is essential to keeping your water nice and warm without wasting water which will help keep your bills down.
Every so often you should check your toilet for leaks. A good way to check for leaks would be to put food coloring Kool-Aid or even coffee in the tank anything that will color the water will work. You should check your toilet bowl in a little bit and if there is color in the bowl your toilet is leaking and the stopper and/or flush valve may need changed.
To clear mineral deposits from your showerhead try a soak in white vinegar. Simply add a cup or two of vinegar to a plastic bag and tape it around the showerhead ensuring that it is submerged. Leave the bag on for an hour and the vinegar will dissolve the mineral build-up allowing water to gush through like it was when it was new.
Plumbing can be an advanced highly technical profession where more often than not you need an experts help. However sometimes that is not the case and there are some simple do it yourself home fixes. If you take a little time to read about them you will find some of the most common plumbing problems are able to be handled by the common man.
