Knowing what tools are what and the proper way to use them will make you much better at plumbing. Use as many resources as you need, such as online or the library, to find the right information to repair your plumbing issues. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, because it can be expensive to fix mistakes.
To avoid clogs, pay attention to what you flush. Sanitary napkins, thick toilet paper and baby wipes should never be flushed. These items can expand and cause a clog, or get caught on a pipe. Instead, dispose of them in a sanitary way that does not involve flushing them down the toilet.
Do not pay your plumber until they finish the job. You might have to put money down initially before the plumber begins the job. However, do not pay everything up front; instead, only pay once the job is successfully completed. Agree with the plumber in advance on the job and payment.
Make sure you clean out overflow holes in your kitchen and bathroom sinks on a regular basis. These holes are intended to act as an emergency fail-safe to prevent spillage from a full sink, but if they are clogged they can't do their job. You can clean out an overflow hole using the same techniques you would for a clogged drain.
Keep your bathtub drain running well by pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain each month. The combination will cause a chemical reaction, so just place a cloth or other object over the drain after pouring. After letting it sit for a few moments, clear the pipes out with a gallon of boiling water. Doing this will clear your pipes of any soap scum or hair that has accumulated.
Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear clogged drains by purchasing a hand-held manual auger. A drain auger is a one-time purchase as opposed to purchasing a new bottle every time a drain is clogged. This is especially helpful for people who deal with clogged drains often, such as people with long hair or kids who like to drop things down the drain.
To protect your money from unsavory plumbers, always get a written estimate before paying a cent or committing to a project. Good businessmen know to under-promise and over-deliver to savvy customers. Once a stated number is given, it is highly unlikely that your plumber will exceed the projected costs of the project.
Drain the sediment from the bottom of your hot water heater twice a year to keep the hot water heater working at its optimal levels. Simply open the drain valve and allow the water to run out into a bucket until the water runs clear. Then close the drain valve.
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Having to wiggle the toilet handle or hold it down to get your toilet to fully flush indicates that the tank parts need to be replaced. Kits that include all of the parts needed can be purchased in any hardware or home improvement store to easily do the repair yourself.
If you are seeing areas in your ceiling or walls that appear to have water damage or are sagging, make sure you turn off the power before inspecting. Electricity and water do not mix. The last thing you need is to go into the attic and get shocked by a pool of water.
Keep an eye on the grout between tiles in your bathroom. Watch for cracks and areas where the grout seems to be falling out, and repair them immediately. Small grout crack issues can be easily repaired by pulling out the bad and putting in new grout. Allow any new grout to dry completely before exposing it to water.
Make sure that you avoid throwing fats down the drain after you clean up your meal. Fats can solidify over http://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-clear-clogged-drain.htm time which can cause a drainage problem and corrupt your water flow. Throw out fats and different types of cooking oils in the garbage after you finish with your meal.
Don't overlook the hair dryer trick for frozen pipes. If you have external pipes that are exposed, a simple hair dryer will get them back into working order. Make sure that you do not attempt it if there is pooling water in the area. Space heaters are useful for frozen pipes that are in the walls.
In conclusion, plumbing is bound to fail over time. There are two solutions: call a plumber to fix it or attempt to fix it yourself. Doing the job by yourself can sometimes be hard, but if you remember the helpful advice from the article above, you can do the task.
