Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

So, you are interested in plumbing? As you are about to read, there are many techniques, skills and equipment one must have in order to successfully do a plumbing job. The fact that plumbing can be a personal type of home improvement can make it seem a bit impossible to find what will work for you. This article will provide you with the information you need to get started on your own plumbing projects.
To prevent pipes in your house from freezing, do not let the temperature in the house dip below freezing. Also, any pipes exposed to the cold should be insulated. The pipes will be able to freeze if the temperature surrounding the pipes drops below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. However, your pipes can explode, as well - making a huge plumbing bill.

Knowing your tools and how to use them can help greatly in your plumbing experience. Study before any do it yourself project by reading any relevant manuals, going online and even making trips to your local public library. Make sure that, before you jump in and start taking things apart, you plan your plumbing repair first.

When it gets very cold, your pipes may freeze. If it does, relieve the pressure in the pipe by turning on the tap so the water can be released as the pipe thaws. This helps decrease any pressure in order to prevent burst pipes. A burst pipe can create damage that is expensive to repair.

Here is a good tip for a safe, inexpensive way to keep the drain in your bathtub trouble-free. Take one cup of baking soda and pour it into the drain. Then do the same with a cup of vinegar. Do this procedure once a month. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. This procedure should be able to clear pipes of hair and soap scum.

If your home has a well for water and there are pink or orange stains in the sinks and tubs, this could be due to high iron content in your water. You can combat this by using a water softener. You can either purchase it at a store, or hire a company to come to your house to set it up for you.

Sometimes low pressure in water lines can be fixed just by cleaning sediment out of the aerator. First, you should remove and disassemble the aerator. Next, clean it with a brush that has been dipped in white vinegar. After rinsing the aerator, put it back together and reinstall it. Once the aerator has been cleared, your water pressure should improve.

Get a good quality replacement shower head. Sometimes, people will choose a shower head because it is the least expensive. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.

Cleaning an aerator can remove sediment buildup that causes low water pressure. Take the aerator off, disassemble it, and brush it clean with a little vinegar. Rinse it and put it back on the faucet. This technique causes the water pressure to rise via the removing of any blockage within the aerator.

Make it a habit to run your rarely used valves on a regular basis to avoid plumbing problems. Use penetrating oil to maintain them, and make sure you turn them every once in a while.

After reading this article, you should be a little excited to start handling plumbing projects on your own. Hopefully, the techniques that you have read about will give you the results that you are looking for. If it does not, try different variations until you are happy with the result. montreal plumber