Plumbing 101: Tips And Tricks For Your Pipes

It's common for plumbing problems to happen right after buying a house. These problems are usually in the kitchen or bathroom. In reality, at some point each homeowner deals with a plumbing problem at some point. Keep reading to find tips that will assist you in dealing with those problems.



Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properly maintained. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems. Hiring a professional to pump out your septic tank is costly, but it is far preferable to the damages that could be incurred if the tank becomes backed-up or inoperative.



If the water in your toilet is low along with the toilet being clogged, pour some extra water in the bowl to make the plunger effective again. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.

You should regularly check for water damage to your bathroom floor caused by your toilet in order to save money and further complications. Feel the floor around the toilet and check to see if the floor is soft, molded, chipping, etc. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. You can save money by noticing and treating this problem as early as possible.

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.

You can greatly extend the life of your garbage disposal by regularly cleaning it. Using lemon rinds and cherry pits mixed with dish soap will help keep your garbage disposal operating efficiently and smelling fresh.

Try to have all your plumbing repairs done at once. Do not call a plumber for minor issues. You can save money by waiting to have everything fixed at the same time. It is a lot more cost effective as you will only be paying for one call-out fee instead of multiple trips.

Each month, treat your drains by pouring one cup of baking soda down it, and then follow that with a cup of regular white vinegar. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. Flush it with boiling water after a few minutes. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.

Use cold water when using your garbage disposal. The cold water helps the blades that are inside stay sharp, and will keep your disposal running smoothly. If you use hot water, any grease in the disposal will turn into liquid, while causes pipe clogging.

Do not use your toilet to get rid of garbage. Don't flush items like paper towels, sanitary napkins, diapers or cotton balls, because these items don't break down and may cause clogging issues. Additionally, use the minimum amount of toilet paper required to clean up after you are done.

Get a good quality replacement shower head. It's common to think it's fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. This is not the case though. The cheaper models usually are low quality and will break easier than a high quality fixture.

Use enzyme based cleaners when cleaning clogged pipes. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. Cleaners containing enzymes are some of the best you can buy.

If you want to save a lot of time and money on plumbing repairs, prevention is the best weapon you have in your arsenal. Clogs can be a major cause of plumbing problems. Loose hair is often the emergency plumber orlando fl culprit if your drain keeps getting clogged. There are ways around this; you can use a drain cover or screen which is actually designed in order to keep your pipes and drain free of hair. Make sure you clean the hair from the screen regularly. This should be much easier than cleaning a drain.

Cold weather can cause expensive plumbing repairs if your pipes freeze. However, most of the time, you can prevent this from happening. Find out if all of your outdoor pipes are properly insulated. When it gets cooler, drain and disconnect the hoses and shut off your outside faucet. Doing so can prevent some nasty repair bills a professional plumber would charge you.

Lack of preparation can really cost you in the event of a plumbing problem. As a homeowner you will need to have some basic plumbing tools, as well as the knowledge to be able to use them. If you encounter a plumbing issue at some point, the tips provided here will assist you in handling it.