Article created by-Bradford Bak

If you're a home owner unfamiliar with plumbing, you're probably familiar with the experience of being charged an arm and a leg for what seems like a simple plumbing repair. If you'd like to avoid this experience again, read on for some advice and tips on how to fix your own plumbing.

If you live in an area that sees routine freezing temperatures, make sure you do something to keep your pipes from becoming frozen as well. There are a wide variety of ways you can keep your pipes from freezing, which will help you avoid damage to your home and costly repairs.

Got a leaky pipe? In many cases you can repair this yourself without the expense of a plumber. If residential plumber is leaking, tighten it with a pipe wrench. If the leak is coming from a damaged section of pipe, you can try repairing with a store-bought patching kit. One method involves applying waterproof tape to the section of pipe where there is leakage. Before applying the tape, make sure the pipe is thoroughly dry. Make sure that the tape covers two to three inches on either side of the breakage in the pipe.








Certain things shouldn't go into your plumbing system. By knowing what you can and cannot flush or throw into the garbage disposal and sink, you can save yourself from a costly repair or disaster. A plumber can usually get your plumbing back into working condition, but can be avoided if you know how to dispose of items correctly.

Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water, it does not take much of a temperature change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a hard-to-reach clog forming in the future.

Make sure that you disconnect all hoses outside your house when the fall season hits. This is important to reduce the chance of freezing, which can cause damage to the connecting pipes. Disconnect all of your water hoses and store them safely to put your family in the best position for the fall.

Have your pipes in your plumbing system frozen? You can skip the cost of hiring a plumber by using this method. First, open the faucet so steam produced by the thawing process can escape. Begin thawing close to the faucet, and move down the line as each section thaws out. Use a hair dryer or a heat lamp to warm along the pipe. Even though this method consumes quite a bit of time, it is safer than most other heating methods. Furthermore, it requires no cleanup.

Basic problems with toilets can be a quick fix for even the rawest amateur plumber and is worth attempting if you can take the time to research the problem. Seek out the necessary part or parts from your local hardware store and ask for support in how to properly install them.

Have your pipes in your plumbing system frozen? You can skip the cost of hiring a plumber by using this method. First, open the faucet so steam produced by the thawing process can escape. Begin thawing close to the faucet, and move down the line as each section thaws out. Use a hair dryer or a heat lamp to warm along the pipe. Even though this method consumes quite a bit of time, it is safer than most other heating methods. Furthermore, it requires no cleanup.

Using a snake tool to remove blockages is very easy. Just insert the tool a few inches into the drain, and then turn the handle to change the direction of the snake head and search for blockages. Continue moving down slowly and searching until you find the cause of your blockage.

When you're going away on a vacation, you should consider shutting off the water supply to your home. This can help stop many problems before they start. If you don't do this, you should have someone stop by your house regularly to check that nothing has gone wrong and that your home isn't flooded.

Work with plumbers that offer flat rates. When a plumber is charging by the hour, they do not have an incentive to get the job done quickly. http://reynaldo12janise.suomiblog.com/plumbing-101...our-piping-like-a-pro-20853223 is human nature to go just a little bit slower if it'll mean extra money in our pockets. If you cannot find someone who charges per project make sure that you are vigilant in watching the clock and their work.

Never try to undertake a project that you are unsure of. Additionally, never call on a friend to help you with something, if they are not a professoinal. There have been hundreds of good friendships ruined by a guy claiming to know exactly what he is doing, when the truth is he is clueless.

When you are working with plumbing, you also need to have some basic skills in other areas. This is especially true of electrical problems, as the two systems often overlap. This doesn't mean that you need to solve the problems, but that you understand what the problems could be.

If you need plumbing fixtures, think seriously about brass. One main reason is that brass plumbing fixtures are incredibly durable. Brass also looks better than other options available. These can be found in any home repair type of store.

You can save money on a plumber by using a power auger yourself to clear a clogged toilet line. Check with local home improvement stores or other venues where you can rent power tools. http://erline1asa.blogdon.net/pipes-info-that-can-save-you-money-22002671 may be able to rent an auger yourself for a fraction of the cost of hiring a plumber, although you will have to be able to remove and reset your toilet yourself if you do not have a main line cleanout.

Use a shop vacuum to unplug your toilets or drains, if a hard object is clogging it. Using a plunger will only push the object further and make it impossible to remove. If you do not have a shop vacuum, you can rent one from most Walmart stores or from similar franchises.

To keep your drains moving freely and free from gunk and buildup, pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar down each drain once a month. The foaming action helps to push stuck substances through the pipe, while the vinegar neutralizes odors. You can follow this solution with a kettle of boiling water for extra cleaning power.

If your pipes are made of copper, they might expand a little when hot water passes through them. This can often times lead to the pipes becoming warped, and not fitting tightly inside the pipe hangers, due to grinding. To avoid damaging your pipes, layer the ends of the pipe with tape to ensure that they will stay securely connected to the hanger.

You should feel better after reading those tips when it comes to plumbing. That was a lot to read through, but at least you should have an idea of what to do and where to begin with your home's plumbing. Besides, you can always come back to this list if you need to.