When you have to do your own plumbing jobs, you may not know which tools, equipment, regulations or instructions you may need to get started. These tips will give you the information you need to be a better plumber!
To prevent pipes from freezing, don’t let temperatures drop under freezing in your home, and insulate external pipes. Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. The worst case would be that they burst, creating water damage and a big repair bill.
If a water pipe freezes, you should turn the on tap that is nearest to the pipe to ensure the water has a place to get out when the pipe thaws out. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.
Knowing what tools are what and the proper way to use them will make you much better at plumbing. Read every manual, and use the Internet and library to research the projects that you plan on doing. Make sure you plan before you try any kind of repair, as it can be costly to fix a mistake.
If your toilet will not flush, and there is very little water in the basin, try to fix the issue by dumping warm water in the bowl from around your waist line. Once the water level is low again, you may repeated this procedure.
Check your floors for softness around toilets, so that you can ascertain if there is any floor damage. Sit on your toilet and sway across both feet to feel if there are any spots less firm than the others. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.
Position a strainer over all drains to collect any particles that would otherwise go down the drain and possibly cause a stoppage. The strainer in the kitchen sink should be cleaned each time you have large particles trapped in it. The ones in your bathtub should also be cleaned frequently, as needed.
Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. Your garbage disposal is particularly vulnerable to this issue, as the fat solids will slow the motion of the blades. This results in the disposal operating less efficiently. Dispose of your oils in a coffee can or other suitable container instead of your sink.
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. This can be remedied by using a water softener which can be purchased at a shop, or a company can pay a visit to your home and handle the situation for you.
Plumbing, while at first it may seem intimidating, doesn’t have to be complicated at all. You need to learn the basics, however. A little research, along with some common sense, will give you the basics you need to get started on your particular job.
