Article created by-Skov Ehlers

Water is important to all life forms, but it can be the bane of the frustrated homeowner who has to deal with plumbing problems. There is not much else short of catastrophe that is going to cause as much damage to a home as plumbing issues. Luckily, people who own homes can do many things to prevent major plumbing problems and to control the damage that does happen.

Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. 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.

If your pipes bang when you turn on the water, and all the pipes are anchored correctly, you should add some straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket. There may be times when you will need to do both. Make sure that if you have copper pipes, you are not using galvanized straps.







Do not use the liquid cleaning supplies that are designed to clear clogs. These cleaners are harmful and can damage your pipes as they clear the clog. Instead of using damaging liquids, use a plunger or a plumbing snake. These are much more effective and will not harm pipes.

If you have noisy pipes, you can cushion them with a rubber blanket or add additional anchor straps. Banging pipes are usually caused by loose pipes, water hammering to a stop as you turn it off, or hot water pipes shifting in their position. All of these problems can be solved by cushioning and anchoring the pipes.

Find out the plumbing codes in your local area before starting any project. Plumbing codes can vary wildly from area to area and you don't want to run afoul of the codes. Visit your local building department to find out information or hire a plumber for a day to help you go over your plans and provide advice.

If you are looking to get new piping in your home, try to stay away from copper ones. Copper tends to have problems, due to water and soil corrosion. hot water replacement is also harder to install these kinds of pipes. Steel or lead pipes tend to offer the best quality and are the most durable.

Every now and then, you should pour a large bucket of water down your basement floor drain. This will help to keep the trap seal full and prevent certain gases from coming up into your home. Also, be sure that you have your floor drain checked by a professional every few years.

If there's grout stuck inside your line, it's most likely will be a losing cause if you try to fix it all by yourself. You can attempt to break up some of the grout which works to help the line go a bit smoother. Plastic pipes are more conducive to clearing grout than metal pipes. It's up to a professional to fix this problem, though.

If you have drains in your house that have not been used for a long period of time, pour one gallon of water through them to keep them functional. Furthermore, this will have the added benefit of reducing any odors from entering your house from lack of use during the year.

To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in you basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.

If you have a lot of hair in your shower drain, be sure to get a stopper and put it in the drain. This will catch the hair from going down the drain, which can clog it. Just make sure that you remove hair that is already in the drain before using the stopper.

When installing a new water heater you need to keep your budget in mind for the upcoming purchase. Low entry gas water heaters usually start around $200 and they usually hold 40 to 50 gallons. Higher line heaters start around $400 and they usually have extra features like 12 year warranties.

To prepare for the cold weather, properly drain all outside faucet bibs and turn off the water supply to those faucets. A piece of foam taped to the outside bib can provide excellent insulation to prevent any remaining water from freezing or splurge for a specialty cover that comes complete with velcro closures.

To get the best possible price from a plumber, shop around and keep notes. When you get a price quote from the first plumber you call, you can subtly mention that price to the second and see if they will beat it. If you keep doing this down a list, you can drive down the price considerably.

Mold growing at the base of your toilet can indicate that condensation is forming on your toilet bowl thanks to room temperature versus bowl and water temperature, or that you have a leak in the wax seal around your toilet. To replace the wax seal, turn off the water to the toilet, disconnect from the water supply and then lift the toilet and replace the ring. The real trick is setting the toilet back down on the ring correctly. Buy an extra ring in case you mess up and to avoid having to run to the hardware store in the middle of the job.

If attempting a plumbing repair yourself, be sure and have plenty of buckets on hand to catch spilling water. While you may have turned off the water supply, there is always some water left in the pipes and the larger the home and more extensive the plumbing system, the more water you may encounter.

Do not shock yourself! Water and electricity do not mix well! If you are working with both electrical and plumbing issues at the same time, then you must avoid crossing them. Beware! The two together can be deadly! When water and electricity are mixed, the risk of getting a shock can be incredibly high, as well as deadly.

In Read the Full Write-up , you want to be sure that all of the advice you have heard about plumbing is correct. Take the time to go back over this article and decide what applies to you and what you need to learn even more about. The learning process never stops and it will benefit you greatly.