Written by-McKinley Duckworth

There is no time like the present to gain a better understanding of plumbing. You've probably thought about it in the past, but haven't had the time to do it. Online resources are available to help you figure out how to repair your plumbing problems.





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.

If you have issues with the plumbing making a hammering sound when you turn it off, check your water pressure. Any time your water pressure is above 80 PSI, you will hear extra water noise. This can be easily solved by the installation of a pressure-reducing valve, which can be done by most homeowners.

Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from sliding down your drain and causing clogs. Clean your kitchen strainer often, particularly if you can see debris accumulating. Keep the bathroom drains cleaned out too.

When using the garbage disposal, do not even bother running the water. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. It can even cause what you put down the disposal to stick, causing damage to the unit.

You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch of the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand, you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.

If you have a shower head that needs replacing, be sure to get one that is good quality. Some people think it's alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. However, they are inexpensive for a reason, this being that they are cheaply made and tend to break a lot easier.

If your toilet is constantly developing moisture on the outside, you may want to consider turning up the heat in your bathroom. The biggest cause of "sweaty" toilets is cool and moist air. Believe it or not, this moisture could actually cause damage to your toilet, so it is crucial that you fix the problem.

You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring, Kool Aid or some coffee grounds to the water in the toilet's tank (not the water in the bowl). Check the water in the bowl after a half hour or so. If any of the coloring agent is visible in the water in the bowl, the tank is leaking, and you will have to have it repaired.

Periodically, make sure that the sump pump in your house is working to full capacity. Pour a few gallons of water into the sump pit, and your pump should drain that water out with minimal issues. Checking that your devices are working throughout the year can pay large dividends in the event of a crisis.

If you find that your pipes have frozen during the cold winter months open all the faucets in your home. This lowers the water pressure for when the pipes thaw and the water is freely flowing again. Make sure to open all the faucets not just those that are frequently used.

Many individuals have no idea what is involved in plumbing, so they willingly spend large amounts of money to have a plumber make repairs. If you own your own home, it's important that you take the time to learn the basics of plumbing, enough to ensure that you know what a plumber will be doing. This will ensure that you are not ripped off.

Try to update https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y0KUP1cLauuBs169Xzs-kNP7JDUHVw9p/view?usp=sharing from time to time. If you have to hold down the handle for a long time to flush your toilet, you may need to replace a worn piece. This improvement will help to save a lot of money on your water bill during the year.

Be careful with putting household cleaners in your toilet. They can cause the toilet to malfunction. The debris that these cleaners leave can sit in your toilet's pipes and harden, making them almost impossible to get rid of. If it does harden, it usually requires the help of a professional.

If you have a plumbing nightmare and your house gets flooded, avoid using heat and heat lamps to dry the property out. Let it dry naturally if you can because the additional heat can cause problems. When building materials dry too fast, they can warp and crack causing more damage than just the water.

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.

If water is flowing out from where your meter is located, a professional is required to come out and fix the leak. If your water bill goes up, this is most likely because the leak is on the house side of the water meter. You will need to get a professional to come out and fix the leak.

Take breaks if you are doing repairs outside in the sun. Gasfitter to forget how hot it is when you are immersed in a project, but that doesn't make the danger any less real.

As you can see from the above list of tips, maintaining and repairing your own plumbing can be very time and money-saving in the long run if you know what you are doing. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to plumbing, but you will become a plumbing expert.