Plumbing can be a very personal type of home improvement. It involves particular needs of an individuals home. This vast world has so many techniques equipment and regulations that it can seem a bit confusing as to where you need to begin. These tips can help you make sense of the confusion.
When choosing a plumber make sure he is insured and licensed. This is very important. If there is a plumbing emergency you want to make sure the plumber has met the training requirements of the state. If he is insured this covers any accidental damage done while fixing your plumbing.
Look closely at your toilets several times throughout the year. Check to see if there are any leaks that you may not have noticed; you can do this by placing five or six drops of food coloring in the tank. If there is a leak the color will seep into the bowl within half an hour. This process will help you catch a small problem before it gets too out of control.
The next time you have a clogged drain avoid the simple solution of dumping drain-clearing chemicals into the pipes. While this method involves the least amount of effort the chemicals in these liquid cleaners are destructive to your piping. Instead consider using a little bit of elbow grease with a plunger snake or other device designed to clear your clog without chemicals.
To avoid having your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter detach all hoses before the first freeze. Also close the shutoff valve that leads to the outdoor faucets then turn on the outdoor faucets to let any remaining water in the lines drain. Once temperatures warm up in the spring you can reverse the process.
You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring Kool Aid or some coffee grounds to the water in the toilets tank (not the water in the bowl). Check the water in the bowl after a half hour or so. If any of the coloring agent is visible in the water in the bowl the tank is leaking and you will have to have it repaired.
If your sink is letting rusty water out and it will not drain it is mostly likely because of the biological scum and grease that is built up in the pipes. You need to have your drains professionally cleaned allowing maximum flow through your drains. Your drains must be open completely.
In conclusion you want to back yourself up as much as you can when it comes to taking care of plumbing issues. Use the details in this article to make sure that you know all of the ins and outs so that you can hopefully avoid having somebody else come out to take care of your issues.