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Once you own a home, you can expect problems to arise with your plumbing sooner or later. The majority of the time, these problems will be in the kitchen or bathroom. Usually, homeowners have to handle plumbing issues at some point. This article offers sound advice for dealing with a wide variety of plumbing problems when they occur.

Pump out your septic tank at least every five years to keep it in proper working condition. Doing this prevents any sediment from getting built up within the tank, which causes a backup in your home or causes your entire septic system to fail. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.

Knowing which tools to use and how to operate them is essential to any aspiring plumber. Read manuals and do some research on the internet before starting a plumbing project. Think ahead and learn everything you can before tackling a plumbing repair project. If you make things worse rather than better, you'll have to pay expensive plumbing fees to fix the problems.

If you encounter a problem with your garbage disposal, resist the urge to reach in and fix it with your bare hands. Even an un-powered garbage disposal presents significant danger. Use the Internet to find a diagram of your device, or a troubleshooter.

You should make sure not to put oils down the drain, such as grease and fat. These substances will clog the drain as they cool and harden. This is especially true if you have a garbage disposal, as the fat will cause the blades to run slower and less efficiently. See to it that you dispose the oils away from your sink.

To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. Cleaning can be done with a variety of things you may already have in your home, such as dish-washing soap, the rinds of lemons, or the pits of cherries. When you create a regular cleaning schedule, you can make sure your garbage disposal runs in tip-top shape and smells fresh and like new.

If you've got a shower head to replace, get a good quality replacement. In a lot of instances, folks decide they can get away with purchasing the most economical model on the shelf. The problem about this is they aren't sturdy and they tend to break a lot easier.

Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. To clean the aerator, you first want to disassemble the faucet and remove it. After that, remove the aerator and scrub it clean with a fine brush. You can use vinegar or some other type of cleaning solution to assist in the task. Rinse the aerator, reassemble it and reattach it to the faucet. That should help raise water pressure, as any aerator obstacles will be gone.

If you have grout in your water line, you shouldn't try cleaning it yourself because it will be pointless. You can break the grout up and make it go further down the line. This works best with plastic pipes as opposed to metal. However, usually you will need the services of a professional to get rid of this problem.

When using the garbage disposal, do not even bother running the water. People are misguided in thinking that it will work better with the water running, but it is actually of no help. However, some advice that it can prevent garbage sticking to your disposal, preventing damage. Read your product guide for instructions.

Check your toilet for any leaks. Check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank of each toilet. Look at its bowl, then if you spot any colored water within just a few seconds, there's an issue that must be dealt with soon.

Before you have a plumber come out to your house, research their history with your local government consumer affairs department or agency. You should verify that they hold a valid licence and look over any bad feedback filed against them. A contractor's license must be in good standing and current for you to even consider him.

Everyone in your family should know exactly where your home's main water shut off valve is and how to use it. There will be a water meter there or nearby. Toilets, sinks and fixtures might have cut-off valves, as well. Make sure all the members of your family know where the cut-off valves are. In addition, add markings to show how they should be turned off.

Homeowners cause themselves a disservice by not having a little plumbing knowledge prior to a plumbing problem. Everyone who owns a house should know a few plumbing repair tips, as well as an understanding of basic tools. The helpful advice you learned from this article will help you when you have a plumbing issue.