Written by-Tarp Christie

Good plumbing maintenance is relatively easy, but failing to keep up with it can mean costly repairs. Here are some good ways you can take care of your plumbing, either yourself or with the help of a licensed professional. Take care of your house now and it will beneift you in the future.

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. mouse click the following web site will help you catch a small problem before it gets too out of control.







Unclog drains with ease. Try using a plunger and drain cleaner, as your clog may simply be a build-up of hair and debris. If this doesn't work you may have to clear the drain with a snake. Feed the snake into the drain line as far as it will go. Turn the crank gently, which will help to loosen the clog. Remove the snake, and run water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. You may have to use the snake a couple of times, before the clog is cleared so don't give up!

Avoid paying the plumber until he finishes the job. Some plumbers may require a deposit, but don't fork over all the dough until the job is completed to spec. Knowing that the plumber performed all services, as promised, can be good for your peace of mind and your wallet.

If your home has a well for water and there are pink or orange stains in the sinks and tubs, this could be due to high iron content in your water. Using a water softener can help fix this problem. You can obtain a water softener at any home improvement store, or rent them from specialist companies.

Unclog drains with ease. Try using a plunger and drain cleaner, as your clog may simply be a build-up of hair and debris. If this doesn't work you may have to clear the drain with a snake. Feed the snake into the drain line as far as it will go. Turn the crank gently, which will help to loosen the clog. Remove the snake, and run water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. You may have to use the snake a couple of times, before the clog is cleared so don't give up!

Always have cold water running when you are using your garbage disposal. The cold water helps the blades that are inside stay sharp, and will keep your disposal running smoothly. Hot water will liquefy grease and build up inside the drain, eventually causing clogs.

Should you spot unexpected water draining inside the dishwasher, you will probably need to check that the hose from the kitchen sink has been installed correctly. The hose going from the dishwasher to the sink needs to angle uphill before going back downhill to prevent water from both being mixed.

Clean out your dryer's lint filter. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. Be certain that you thoroughly inspect the trap to ensure there are no tears or holes that may allow lint to travel to the pipes.

You can remove unsightly mineral buildup from your shower head by soaking it in vinegar overnight. This loosens the deposits, and in the morning you only need to wipe off the residue with a rag. If your shower head is high up an not removable, place vinegar in a plastic bag, slip the bag over the shower head and hold in place with a twist tie.

Watch out for decreased levels of intensity in the water flow in your bathroom. This can be a sign of calcium or mineral deposits disrupting water flow. If spotted early enough it may be possible to remedy this without having to replace the pipes.

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.

If you are looking into hiring a plumber, make certain you do your research first before you hire one. Some plumbers just don't know how to handle certain tasks which could make the problem worse. Look at reviews about plumbers or ask friends and family if they know of one.

If you are thinking about becoming a plumber yourself, then you should first try to start out as an apprentice. If you can find a good mentor then you will learn a great deal more from watching and assisting him than you possibly could learn by working on projects alone.

Sometimes in the case of minor and or major emergencies we all have to become Mr. Fix it ourselves. If you've got blockage in your drains the first step is to try a commercial de-clogger like Drano. Simply pour just click the following website down the drain, wait ten minutes, and presto, your drain should be clear.

Run dishwashers and washing machines at night, or during times when people are not using that much water. This will keep water pressure strong for showers and other things, while making sure that dishwashing and laundry still takes place in a timely manner. It also preserves energy costs and use.

To avoid water damage to walls in the kitchen, make sure all seams in your counter tops and back splash are properly sealed using a waterproof silicone. Silicone will dry out over time, crack and shrink and should be replaced once every three years. Keeping your silicone in good shape will keep kitchen spills where they belong and not running down the walls.

When looking for a new toilet, you may want to consider getting a pressure assisted toilet. These kinds of toilets deliver water directly to a jet in the bottom of the toilet. This jet is very powerful and helps to remove waste quicker and more efficiently than other toilets do.

Plumbing can incredibly fickle and being left with a huge plumbing bill or water damage can be disappointing to say the least. Do yourself a favor and follow these tips to start fixing and installing your own plumbing.