Find Tips To Successful Plumbing Projects For The Home
Plumbing does not have to be as complicated as most people make it out to be. You need to know some basic things about plumbing systems and the necessary tools to do your repairs. This article may have a few useful tips and tricks that you can add to your tool belt.
Before starting any plumbing project, be sure to turn off the main water supply. You may have to contact a local plumber to do this for you. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage, turn the main water supply off as well as any shut-off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
Look closely at your toilets several times throughout the year. Check to see if there are any leaks that you may not have noticed; you can do this by placing five or six drops of food coloring in the tank. If there is a leak, the color will seep into the bowl within half an hour. This process will help you catch a small problem before it gets too out of control.
Do not put cooking oils, fat, or grease down your drain. These fats cause clogs by solidifying in pipes. To properly dispose of fats, put them in a bowl with a lid you can dispose of. Once it gets hard, throw it in the trash or compost bin.
To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek a plumber’s services to make the repairs.
Make sure you get a good recommendation or check the references before you hire a plumber. With good recommendations, it will assure you that you are hiring an experienced plumber. If the experienced plumber is professional, he will have a fully stocked truck and complete most small jobs in one visit.
To minimize potential problems with your toilet, avoid using it as a trash receptacle. Don’t flush anything unlikely to dissolve and wind up clogging pipes, such as diapers, tissues, paper towels, and cotton balls. Try to minimize the amount of toilet tissue that gets flushed, too – but don’t neglect basic hygiene!
If you have problems with a slow drain, there are easier things you can do other than removing the pipes to clean it. There are specific tools made just for this purpose that you insert into the drain to loosen the clog, so it washes away or grabs it and obliterate it.
Do not, under any circumstances, put lemons down your disposal. Although the lemon smell will give your disposal a great smell, its acid can corrode the metal parts in it. Instead, use products that are made specifically for this use. You can purchase these products at most hardware stores or wherever cleaning products are sold.
Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your bathroom. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!
Plumbing can be an efficient skill to have in your tool belt for whatever needs you may have. You may already know the basics and want to know how to save time and money by repairing yourself. No matter your reasons, hopefully, the tips in this article have given you some ideas.