It is very common after you buy a house for some plumbing problems to start to come up. The bathroom and kitchen are the most frequent sites for these problems. Plumbing issues can be extremely expensive, especially if they are not handled immediately. Here are some ways to help when that happens.
Never reach into your garbage disposal with bare hands, even if there is a serious problem with it. Even when the garbage disposal is turned off they can be dangerous. Look for a diagram of the garbage disposal you have on the Internet.
Regularly check your overflow holes to make sure they’re not clogged. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. When you do periodic checks for any other problems or repairs that are needed, take the time to clear the holes that are there to protect you from overflow.
If your pipes are clogged, and you want to try a pipe cleaner, it is suggested that you use an enzyme based cleaner. These natural bacteria cleaners turn sludge into liquid, and then remove it from the pipes. The best cleaner available on the market are the enzyme ones.
You should always clean your dryer’s lint trap. This can prevent a lot of problems, including a fire. See to it that you look at the lint trap and find out if it has tears or holes in it that could cause lint to go inside your pipes. This could lead to clogs or other problems in the future.
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. However, this problem can be prevented. If you have any pipes outside, have them properly insulated. Secondly, when the temperature begins to drop, you want to drain and disconnect the hoses, then make sure you turn the outside faucet off. You can avoid future plumbing repairs by doing this, and therefore, saving you a lot of money.
Don’t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. It is a common misconception that running water simultaneously is a good idea, but that is not really the case. The truth is that it might encourage food to adhere to the disposal itself, causing additional harm.
Try not to use drain cleaners too often, it at all. Corrosive chemicals erode the metal pipes slowly. Rather than using cleaners, hire a professional to look at your clogged drain.
It is important to check the background of any plumbers you are looking at hiring, and get referrals if possible. Some plumbers are simply not skilled or experienced enough to handle certain jobs, and they could even make your problem worse. Always look into a plumber’s reviews or talk to people you trust, such as family and friends.
Being caught completely unprepared for plumbing dramas is the last thing you should do. If you own a home, you should have some basic plumbing equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it. Avoid a huge plumbing issue by learning to handle the smaller issues as they occur.
