Water can be a serious source of issues for a homeowner. There are not many things more devastating to a home’s structure than a major plumbing problem. Fortunately, homeowners can take a lot of steps to prevent plumbing nightmares and to minimize the effects when they occur.
Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are an easy problem to fix. Any exposed pipes will need to be anchored. Pipes that are contained within the floors, walls and ceilings may need to be attended by a professional plumber.
Don’t let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. It will take a while for the pipes to thaw, leaving you without running water. But, more importantly, the pipes can burst, which will cause a huge mess and big repair bill.
If your toilet gets clogged, there is a low level of water in toilet, and the plunger is not working, you may fix the problem by dumping warm water from a bucket into your toilet from about waist level. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.
Check for floor damage around your toilet. If the floor around your toilet feels softer than the rest of the floor in your bathroom, there’s damage you need to address. Another great way to check is to actually sit on the toilet and move in a rocking motion, going back and forth from right to left to see how much give you feel. You could save yourself money but noticing that problem sooner, rather than later.
Use a drain strainer to prevent small particles from sliding down your drain and causing clogs. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. Clean bathtub drain screens as often as needed.
Try to never pour grease, fat, or any oil-based liquids into your drains. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. Don’t put oils down the sink.
If you notice orange or pink stains in your bathroom fixtures, this is because of the iron in your water. This is fixed by using water softener, which can be bought at a store, or you can have someone come to your home and fix it.
However, if you mix a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda and send them down your tub’s drain each month, the flow will keep going smoothly. Cover it with a plug or rag, because a chemical reaction is sure to occur in your pipes. Pause a few minutes, and then follow the mixture with boiling water. This simple solution can break up clogs caused by everything from hair to soap scum.
It is important to always run cold water while using your garbage disposal. The cold water helps keep the blades sharp and can make disposal much smoother. If you use hot water, any grease in the disposal will liquefy, causing it to accumulate further down the drain, which could cause clogs.
Dishwashers that have too much water running into them could have a hose installed improperly. The water will not drain into the dishwasher from the sink if it is configured in an uphill and downhill position.
As it is with anything, good preparation and education are keys to avoiding problems, and this holds true with plumbing as well. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.
