Category Archives: Home Improvement

Plumbing Is Not As Hard As It Seems

March 16, 2024   Matt

Plumbing Is Not As Hard As It Seems

Plumbing can imply a lot of different connotations depending upon whom you ask or talk to about it. We all know that it’s essential to your home, but that doesn’t mean that you should neglect it or just leave it to a pro. Take some time to learn how to do it yourself using the tips below.

It is not always necessary to call in a plumber when you have a damaged section of pipe in your plumbing. There are repair kits you can buy in your local hardware store which are excellent in repairing leaks. If you have a small leak, you can rub a compound stick over the hole or crack in the pipe to seal it shut. Epoxy paste is also an excellent remedy for a leaking pipes. Make sure you turn off the water and completely dry the pipe before applying the epoxy.

Always keep your garbage disposal clean. You can do this in many ways. Pour some dish soap in and let the disposal run for a few minutes with some cold water. Be sure to run it regularly, if not, it can cause rust. To eliminate foul odors, grind lemon or other citrus peels. You can clean the walls of the disposal by grinding small fruit pits or egg shells.

You absolutely must use sealant on a joint unless it has been glued or soldered. Sealant tape is easy to use and will create an amazingly tight fit, so choose the right one for the job. Blue tape is for sealing a connection for water, and yellow tape is for gas joints.

If you want to keep your kitchen drains from clogging up, don’t pour grease down them. As it cools and congeals it can trap other food or waste particles, which over time can slow the draining of water and even form a clog that will not be easy to remove.

Do not pour grease or oil down any of your household drains. Put them in containers and place in the fridge until they are solid, then throw them away. If you pour them down the drain, they can solidify in cold pipes. These solid masses will clog your pipes and are very difficult to remove.

Don’t use drain cleaners on your plumbing as they’re very corrosive and can actually damage your pipes. Anything that says it’s harmful if applied to the skin can be harmful to whatever it touches! If you have a septic system then this is even MORE important as it will kill the bacteria which is digesting your waste.

If the water pressure on your street exceeds 60 pounds, you many want to consider installing a pressure reducing valve. Too much water pressure is actually harmful to your plumbing system and could cause excess water pressure. A pressure reducing valve cuts down your water pressure by almost 50 percent.

It’s true that plumbing should be of utmost importance when it comes to home improvement. That said, you should not just leave it until there is a problem and then call a pro. You can learn to take care of it yourself and hopefully these tips gave you advice on how to do that.

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What You Need To Know About Plumbing (2)

March 11, 2024   Matt

What You Need To Know About Plumbing

Did you know that loose pipes might be responsible for the hammering sounds in your plumbing? If this interests you, you might wish to check out all of the other great information in this article. Take a few minutes and learn all you can learn about plumbing today.

If you are not able to shut off a main valve to your home before you leave for vacation, shut off the individual valves under the sinks and behind the toilets. Be sure that the valves are in good working order before you make the mistake of turning one that is ready to be broken at any time.

Sometimes in the case of minor and or major emergencies we all have to become Mr. Fix it ourselves. If you’ve got blockage in your drains the first step is to try a commercial de-clogger like Drano. Simply pour it down the drain, wait ten minutes, and presto, your drain should be clear.

When getting an estimate from a contractor on a job, make sure to ask how long the written estimate is good for. For big jobs you usually want to get estimates from a few different plumbers. Knowing how long your estimate is valid will help you know what your time limit is for making a decision on who to hire.

If you call a plumber to your home to fix a problem, inform the plumber of any chemicals or drain openers that you have added to the drain. This gives the plumber the opportunity to prepare for chemical exposure in the event that he or she comes into contact with water from inside the pipes.

If you’re planning on connecting galvanized steel to copper pipes you need to use a dielectric union to make sure that the steel doesn’t corrode. It is made of both steel and copper and will ensure that the union is tight, safe, and lasts as long as your house is standing.

Check your water meter frequently to detect if there is a leak in your pipeline. If you are not using a lot of water during a period of time and your water meter rises, this can be a clear indication of a leak. Replace leaks as soon as possible to prevent further plumbing issues.

Basic problems with toilets can be a quick fix for even the rawest amateur plumber and is worth attempting if you can take the time to research the problem. Seek out the necessary part or parts from your local hardware store and ask for support in how to properly install them.

When dealing with a clogged drain and no snake is available, use a hanger to clear the clog. By straightening the hanger and bending a small hook at the end, you can create a long enough tool for most drains. Slide the hangar in as deep as possible and poke in and out repeatedly till the clog is cleared.

In conclusion, there could be simple or difficult reasons for problems with your plumbing. Those scary noises from your basement might just be from something as simple as loose pipes. Use the great advice provided here so that you can identify and resolve all of your plumbing issues.

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Fixing Leaky Faucets And Other Minor Plumbing Issues Yourself. (2)

March 06, 2024   Matt

Fixing Leaky Faucets And Other Minor Plumbing Issues Yourself.

Did you know that loose pipes might be responsible for the hammering sounds in your plumbing? If this interests you, you might wish to check out all of the other great information in this article. Take a few minutes and learn all you can learn about plumbing today.

Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shut off valve is and that they know how to work it. That way, if there is a water problem, anyone in your household can turn off the water, thereby reducing the chances that your home will incur major water damage.

Avoid using hard cleaners on your toilets, such as drop-in cleaner tabs in the tank. When these tabs are almost completely dissolved, what’s left of the tab gets washed into the bowl. This can then end up clogging the toilet’s port holes, preventing the toilet from flushing properly. It can take months for this debris to finish dissolving in those holes.

NEVER dump grease or oil down your drains! They both turn solid when they’re cold and can clog up your drains, especially in the kitchen and bathroom where other items end up going down the sink and creating blocks. Let it cool, instead, and throw it out in the trash.

To avoid sediment buildup, drain gallons of water from your water heater to flush any corrosion. This will help your heater to run more efficiently therefore saving you regular energy costs. Make sure to read your heater’s instructions before attempting this, and do this periodically to make sure that your heater is running as well as it can.

In any DIY plumbing project, make sure that you always test the drains and the supply lines before you close up the walls. It is a lot easier to find and solve problems if you look for them while you are still in the process of actively doing the job.

If you have hard water, check intake hoses for washing machines and ice makers often to prevent them from splitting open from buildup. Lime scale remover can be used to remove buildup, but replacing hoses is an economical method as well to take care of the issue. Change out hoses when you change the batteries in your smoke alarms to stop unexpected floods.

Check for leaks behind the wall tile in your bathroom, especially any tile surrounding your bathtub, by gently pressing each tile and feeling for some give. If you find any mushy or soft spots, you will need to find the source of the leak and repair it to prevent further damage.

To prepare for the cold weather, properly drain all outside faucet bibs and turn off the water supply to those faucets. A piece of foam taped to the outside bib can provide excellent insulation to prevent any remaining water from freezing or splurge for a specialty cover that comes complete with velcro closures.

In conclusion, there could be simple or difficult reasons for problems with your plumbing. Those scary noises from your basement might just be from something as simple as loose pipes. Use the great advice provided here so that you can identify and resolve all of your plumbing issues.

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Plumbing Tips That Every Homeowner Can Use (2)

March 01, 2024   Matt

Plumbing Tips That Every Homeowner Can Use

Doing your own plumbing can be an important part of your home improvement. You need to do all of your research, so that you don’t wind up losing a ton of money or destroying your home and your stuff. There are some tips listed here to help you begin with it.

In any DIY plumbing project, make sure that you always test the drains and the supply lines before you close up the walls. It is a lot easier to find and solve problems if you look for them while you are still in the process of actively doing the job.

Make sure you allow a slow drip over the night when you experience the coldest of winter weather. A general rule to follow is, if there is snow on the ground, leave the water dripping. This keeps a constant flow and reduces your risk of waking up to frozen pipes that can cause a great deal of damage.

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 drop a small item like a ring or earring into a sink drain, hope is not lost. By carefully removing the U-shaped trap underneath the sink, you can probably retrieve the item. Be aware that the trap will be full of water, though, so have something under it to catch the spills.

Do not put your hand in the garbage disposal to remove a clog. This can be potentially harmful. Always use tongs to get out whatever is stuck in the disposal. Using tongs is much safer, and you will make sure your hand does not get cut on the disposer’s sharp blades.

If you hear loud, vibrating noises coming from your pipes, you may want to consider adding air chambers to the end of the pipes and tightening them. Usually, these noises are caused from opening and closing faucets too quickly and tightening the pipes and adding air chambers can fix this problem.

Don’t shrug off that trickle coming from your toilet as a small problem. Even the tiniest leak can be quite expensive in the long run as you end up wasting potentially hundreds of gallons of water. See if you can find the root of the leak, or seek out professional advice, and keep your toilet running efficiently.

Avoid frozen pipes this winter! Keep a small trickle of water dripping from faucets, and wrap your uninsulated pipes with foam or newspaper. If possible, keep the doors open between unheated and heated rooms. In an unheated area such as a garage or laundry room, keep a small heater next to the pipes. Remember to do this before the first cold snap hits.

Doing your own plumbing can be very rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work. Regardless, if you know what to do and how to do your plumbing properly. So, do yourself a favor by doing your research and applying these tips to your home plumbing endeavors.

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Great Advice For Successful Plumbing In Your Home (3)

February 25, 2024   Matt

Great Advice For Successful Plumbing In Your Home

When it comes to plumbing, you want to make sure that you are getting the best advice available. Use the tips and tricks provided in this article to ensure that you are getting reliable information to use at home and it will not lead to further, unwanted costs down the road.

DIY plumbing jobs will require that you understand how to solder copper for the lines for the water supply. You can practice this skill so that you will be able to run your lines without worrying about it leaking. Search online for video tutorials that can help you get a handle on how to go about soldering.

Unblock your waste disposal unit. Fats, cooking oils, and high fiber food materials can block your disposal system. Reach under the sink, and using an Allen wrench, insert it into the hole at the base of the waste disposal. Turn back and forth until it moves freely. You can then use tongs to remove anything that is clogging the unit.

Check to make sure that the walls behind the tiles in your bathroom are not soft. Push into the tiles to confirm that the foundation is firm and robust. If the area is delicate and brittle, there is a good chance that water has created damage behind the tiles over time.

Do not pour hot grease down your kitchen drains. It can build up in the pipes and cause your plumbing to back up. Allow the grease to cool in your pan or in a can and then dispose of it in the garbage. This consideration is going to reduce the amount of backups that occur in your kitchen sink.

If you have a water pressure or fill problem throughout the whole house, do not panic. It could be the simplest of solutions. Sometimes the city flushes their systems, breaking up debris and sending it to homes. This requires cleaning drains effectively and strainers in order to resolve the problem.

Use your garbage disposal with the cold water running so that you can preserve the blades of the disposal. Using hot water makes grease more liquid and can cause problems, including clogs. Make sure to clean blades by putting in a little dish detergent and run cold water at the same time.

In order to keep your shower and bath tub drains in proper working order, try pouring a potful of boiling water into the drain at least every other week. Using this approach will clear out the constant hair and soapscum build-up that may occur even if you have installed a drain screen.

You should try using a plumbing snake or plumber to unclog a clog. Liquid cleaners that are meant to unclog the clogs in a drain could ruin the pipes. You should also use strainers to catch hair so that it doesn’t go down the drain and get clumped and clog your drain.

In conclusion, it is important that you back yourself up with a great base knowledge of plumbing. Ideally, you were able to find this article both informative and interesting. Use this great information and you will find that you will save a lot of money, as opposed to having to hire a professional.

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There Is A Lot To Know About Pipes

February 20, 2024   Matt

There Is A Lot To Know About Pipes

A problem with your plumbing can happen anytime. If it does, you need to know what to do about it. It is possible for you to take care of many of these problems on your own. Here are some helpful tips to teach you how to handle plumbing problems yourself.

If you cannot turn off your main water valve before leaving on vacation, turn off the individual valves for the toilets, sinks, and washing machine. If the valves do not look like they are in good working order, then leave them on and that will be something that you need to have changed when you return.

Make sure you get a good recommendation or check the references before you hire a plumber. With good recommendations, it will assure that you are hiring an experienced plumber. If the experienced plumber is professional, he will have a fully stocked truck and be able to complete most small jobs in one visit.

One of the things that you can do to safeguard your home from any serious plumbing issues is to install a flood alarm. This is a device that will sound when it comes in contact with water, alerting you if there are any issues in a particular area in the house.

Unblock your waste disposal unit. Fats, cooking oils, and high fiber food materials can block your disposal system. Reach under the sink, and using an Allen wrench, insert it into the hole at the base of the waste disposal. Turn back and forth until it moves freely. You can then use tongs to remove anything that is clogging the unit.

Use your garbage disposal with the cold water running so that you can preserve the blades of the disposal. Using hot water makes grease more liquid and can cause problems, including clogs. Make sure to clean blades by putting in a little dish detergent and run cold water at the same time.

Taking the time to prepare your plumbing before you leave on vacation may save you quite the mess when you get home. The easiest way to avoid these disasters is by shutting off the main valve to your house. This will keep any more water from entering the lines in case there is a rupture somewhere.

You may want to consider tankless water heaters if you want to conserve water in your home. These kind of water heaters heat up your water as soon as it is being used, so you are not wasting energy on keeping your water hot when it is not being used.

If you drop a small item like a ring or earring into a sink drain, hope is not lost. By carefully removing the U-shaped trap underneath the sink, you can probably retrieve the item. Be aware that the trap will be full of water, though, so have something under it to catch the spills.

When you have a plumbing problem that comes up in your home, you do not necessarily have to pay a plumber a lot of money to come out and fix it for you. The helpful points you learned in this article will enable you to care for basic plumbing maintenance and repairs around your home yourself.

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