Advice On How To Deal With A Plumbing Situation
Anytime you have a plumbing problem, you do not need to get stressed out. This article will give you some tips to learn how to handle plumbing problems. Remember to take your time when fixing anything yourself so that you do not cause any further damage from happening to your pipes.
Make sure you know where your home's water shutoff is located. You never know when there might be an emergency involving a broken pipe or damaged connection that requires you to turn off the water right away. In addition, knowing where the shutoff is located is vital before you start any plumbing project, in case anything goes wrong.
Ensure that everyone in your household knows how to turn off the main water supply, or knows how to contact someone who can. In the event of a burst pipe or other water-related emergency, you should immediately turn off the water to prevent flooding, structural damage, and a sky-high water bill.
You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. This prevents sediment from building up in the tank and causing a backup into your home or causing the failure of the septic system itself. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, cleaning up sewage backup in your home will ultimately cost much more.
If your garbage disposal is having problems, don't give in to the desire to attempt a fix by reaching down into the disposal. Even an un-powered garbage disposal presents significant danger. Research your disposal online to locate a detailed diagram or troubleshooting guide for your model.
At least once a year remove the faucet aerator and clean the screens. This helps it properly function. The function of a faucet aerator is to allow for an even flow of water and to conserve water. Be sure to clean out the aerator and you'll notice a these things working.
It is not always necessary to call in a plumber when you have a damaged section of pipe in your plumbing. There are repair kits you can buy in your local hardware store which are excellent in repairing leaks. If you have a small leak, you can rub a compound stick over the hole or crack in the pipe to seal it shut. Epoxy paste is also an excellent remedy for a leaking pipes. Make sure you turn off the water and completely dry the pipe before applying the epoxy.
Don't shrug off that trickle coming from your toilet as a small problem. Even the tiniest leak can be quite expensive in the long run as you end up wasting potentially hundreds of gallons of water. See if you can find the root of the leak, or seek out professional advice, and keep your toilet running efficiently.
If you have drains in your house that have not been used for a long period of time, pour one gallon of water through them to keep them functional. Furthermore, this will have the added benefit of reducing any odors from entering your house from lack of use during the year.
Cover pipes that are outside or in cool areas. Use heat tape to make sure that the pipes are completely covered and insulated. This will prevent frozen pipes in the winter, which can be an expensive problem. Check outdoor pipes for other problems such as leaks and cracks which are better to catch early.
To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in you basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.
Treating your drains every month is a great way to avoid future clogs and other problems, and it's a very simple procedure. Just run one to two gallons of hot tap water down each drain in your house.
If you have an odor coming from one or more fixtures in your house, it is likely this has to do with the water in water traps. Each fixture has a water trap that is sealed off to prevent odors. If the water evaporates, the odors can surface. Therefore, try adding water to the traps.
Make sure that the temperature of your home's water heater is not above 120F. On older water heaters, be sure it is not above medium settings. When temperatures get higher than 120, scalding can occur. Also, having the settings above 120F, tends to use more energy than lower temperatures do.
You have learned many ways to handle a wide variety of plumbing problems. Take the advice in this article to use as a guide. If you have any further questions, make sure to take the time to find the answers using the internet or a professional so that you know exactly what you are doing before you start.