Plumbing Ideas that Will Save Your Life (and Your Wallet)

Some individuals believe that working on drain cleaning yourself is hard. But, with the right advice and know-how, it is a lot easier than you think. Read this article to learn how to fix basic things.

If you have loose tiles, see if there are any indications of water damage. Tiles that are not tight can be a warning sign that you have a leak. Feel each tile carefully to see if there is enough resistance. Paying attention to signs like this can minimize any water damage.

Read the labels and choose a chemical drain cleaner with care. Many of these cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can corrode pipes. Choose a brand that claims to be easy on pipes. Some drain cleaners can kill bacteria that is essential to your plumbing system and could even put your family in danger.

Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the “volcano” in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. After about 10 minutes you can flush the pipes out with boiling water. This process should open up the pipes by clearing out hair build-up and soap scum.

One interesting tip we received from Orange County plumbing Professional, & owner or Rooterman Plumbing really got us thinking about the intricacies of plumbing – Here’s what he had to say: the flapper and flapper seat in your toilet tank, when damaged, worn or crusted with mineral build-up, allows water to keep running into the toilet bowl on a continuous basis, which drives up your water bills by a great deal. This problem can usually be solved by replacing the flapper and cleaning the flapper seat.

In order to improve your water heater’s effectiveness, you should figure out the hot water tank size that your home needs. Knowing the number of people and appliances that use hot water in your home will let you know what size hot water tank will be the best for your home.

Because pipes have a tendency to freeze in the winter months, it’s a good idea to insulate pipes that are in colder spaces. Think about crawl spaces, basement bathrooms, outside water sources, etc. Insulation that wraps snugly around a pipe is readily available. This will keep your pipes from bursting during the winter and also help keep hot water hot as it moves through the pipes.

If you have been working outside for a long period of time, be sure to take a break to get out of the sun. Forgetting you are out in the sun can be a problem, and you should really minimize the exposure you receive.

Give all drains strainers to gather particulate matter that can clog pipes. Your kitchen sink strainer needs cleaning every time something big gets stuck in it. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.

Check your toilet regularly for leaks. Put food coloring in your toilet tank to test the toilet for leaks. If you see the coloring after a few seconds, you will know that there is a problem with your toilet that needs immediate attention.

A lot of people are intimidated by water heater repair issues and think that even small problems will ruin their home. This can be avoided if you are aware of one thing. If you know how to locate the water register for your home, then you can easily prevent water damage.

As was discussed at the beginning of the article, while drain repair can be an extremely difficult chore for anyone to complete, it becomes significantly easier if you have the right advice and information. Use the advice from this article, and you’ll be on your way to doing your own plumbing.

Check Out This Informative Video on plumbing tips and tricks:

Posted in Home Improvement Tips