Tag Archives: Pipes

Clear Those Pipes With These Plumbing Tips (4)

July 27, 2024   Matt

Clear Those Pipes With These Plumbing Tips

Ah, plumbing. There are just so many ways to define it as it doesn’t mean the same thing to everybody. There are also so many ways that somebody can improve upon their own system at home. With so many ways to do things, you are probably wondering where you can begin. Try beginning with the tips below.

If you have infrequently used drains in your house, you should pour water into them on a regular basis. This water will fill the trap and will prevent odors from entering the house. If you have slow floor drains, you should snake them to ensure they are capable of carrying water away quickly in the event of a flood.

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.

It is a general rule of thumb that you should replace a water faucet every seven years, even if you do not see anything wrong with it. Some faucet problems are not visible to the naked eye, which is why it is so important for them to replaced every so often.

Treating your drains every month is a great way to avoid future clogs and other problems, and it’s a very simple procedure. Just run one to two gallons of hot tap water down each drain in your house.

To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in you basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.

If you are looking to get new piping in your home, try to stay away from copper ones. Copper tends to have problems, due to water and soil corrosion. It is also harder to install these kinds of pipes. Steel or lead pipes tend to offer the best quality and are the most durable.

During the winter months, your water heater works the hardest. To keep it in optimum condition, flush it out before winter arrives. Flushing the system helps remove the sediment buildup, which causes internal corrosion of your water heater, shortens its lifespan, and reduces heating efficiency. Connect a hose to the faucet near the bottom of the tank and drain several gallons by directing the water into a nearby drain.

To get rid of dirt that accumulates under the edges of faucets, consider using an old toothbrush, rather than cleaning products. Many cleaning products will just cause damage to your faucets, and some of this damage could be severe. Just dip the toothbrush into warm water and then use it.

Yes, plumbing is quite a subject in that it is completely subjective by it’s very definition. No two people view plumbing the exact same way. What one finds useful to their system, the other may not. These tips should have given you some advice on how to start with your own plumbing.

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Helpful Information For Working On Your Pipes (2)

May 25, 2024   Matt

Helpful Information For Working On Your Pipes

Plumbing can cost a lot of money, so being prepared and knowing how to take care of your plumbing can be very beneficial to you and your wallet. By knowing how to take care of your plumbing, you can save time and save yourself a lot of money, in the end.

Having to wiggle the toilet handle or hold it down to get your toilet to fully flush indicates that the tank parts need to be replaced. Kits that include all of the parts needed can be purchased in any hardware or home improvement store to easily do the repair yourself.

Try to update your internal toilet components from time to time. If you have to hold down the handle for a long time to flush your toilet, you may need to replace a worn piece. This improvement will help to save a lot of money on your water bill during the year.

Never pour grease of any kind down your kitchen drains, especially grease from animal sources, which tends to harden rather quickly. The grease can congeal in your pipes and cause disastrous clogs and back-ups. It’s better to dispose of grease in the trash to keep your drains flowing well.

Check for calcium and mineral deposits by turning on both the kitchen sink and the bathtub. If the volume of water is low, it may be time for you to replace pipes due to deposits of calcium and other minerals. Check the water pressure and consider calling a professional to handle the entire job.

Be sure to install screened drain covers in your sinks and bathtubs. These covers will keep the hair from going down the drain and clogging up your lines. It is a very affordable way to prevent your pipes from being clogged and going through the hassle and expense of unclogging them.

If you absolutely need to contact a plumber, be careful with the professional that you pick. Like mechanics, plumbers are experts in their particular field, and they may try to convince you to do a job or service that is completely unnecessary given your problem. Try to find one who has gotten good reviews, especially when it comes to honesty.

It is a general rule of thumb that you should replace a water faucet every seven years, even if you do not see anything wrong with it. Some faucet problems are not visible to the naked eye, which is why it is so important for them to replaced every so often.

In cold climate areas, sometimes the pipes in the plumbing system freeze. You can thaw them out without calling a plumber. Before beginning this process, open the faucet and begin thawing closest to the faucet and then move down the line as sections thaw out. One method you can use is to wrap the pipe with a heavy towel or burlap and then pour hot water over it, set a bucket underneath to catch the water.

By knowing your plumbing and how it works, as was stated before, can save you a lot of time and money. There’s nothing worse than a plumbing accident to mess up your day. So, using the advice from this article, you can be sure to save yourself a big headache!

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Plumbing 101: Tips And Tricks For Your Pipes (4)

March 26, 2024   Matt

Plumbing 101: Tips And Tricks For Your Pipes

Ready to begin with your own plumbing jobs? Do you know where to start or how to begin? Do you know what equipment and techniques will work for your next task? Well, the tips that are listed below may be the very ones that you need.

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.

If you toilet is clogged up, the water is low and a plunger doesn’t work you could try dumping warm water from a bucket into the toilet from waist level or higher. You should repeat dumping warm water in the bowl when necessary and if the water gets low again.

Don’t forget to check the plumbing on the outside of your home before you leave on vacation! Any leaks that are there can end up damaging your foundation, especially if you go away during the winter. Check each faucet and pipe, including your sprinkler system, far enough ahead of time to be able to do repairs.

Do not use the liquid cleaning supplies that are designed to clear clogs. These cleaners are harmful and can damage your pipes as they clear the clog. Instead of using damaging liquids, use a plunger or a plumbing snake. These are much more effective and will not harm pipes.

When the temperature drops below freezing, protect exposed pipes from the weather by adding a source of heat near the pipes. Ranging from electrical tape applied directly to the pipes to small space heaters placed near exposed pipes, keeping the temperature above freezing can prevent costly repairs caused by frozen pipes.

If you live in an area where sewers are known to back up into homes. You will need to install a backflow valve into your floor drains. By doing this you can prevent future backup of sewage into your home. This device will save you much money from loss of property due to sewer water contamination, and it will also save many hours of labor needed to clean up after these backups.

When you’re leaving for vacation it’s a great idea to turn your gas water heater to the “vacation” setting before you leave. If you have an electric water heater you can turn the breaker off that leads to it instead. This will save you electricity which is being wasted on heating water you’re not using.

The truth to DIY plumbing is that you’re taking your life on the line when you start a project. You may drive yourself nuts, cost yourself an arm and a leg, and end up having to call in a professional to fix the mess you made – at double the price. Consider a professional first unless you really know what you’re doing.

Fair enough, you’re not going to become an expert overnight – but there are surely one or two pieces of advice here that you can use. Every job that you do yourself is one less job that you have to pay someone else to do!

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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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Clogged, Old Or Leaking Pipes? Try These Tips! (2)

January 21, 2024   Matt

Clogged, Old Or Leaking Pipes? Try These Tips!

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.

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.

Keep a grease vat in your kitchen to pour all used cooking grease into. Grease is a big reason that kitchen drains slow and eventually, stop up. Even the harshest drain cleaning products, tend to not be a match for a heavy grease clog. The grease you save in the vat can be formed into balls and rolled in bird seed for wonderful winter bird feeders.

Be sure that you shut off your drain lines and outside faucets when the weather gets colder. Cold weather, snow, and ice can cause these lines to freeze up, which can cause damage to them. If you can, try to have these shut off before the first frost of the year.

If you have a clogged drain, don’t use cleaning chemicals to try to clear the clog. These harsh chemicals can corrode your metal pipes leading to leaks and broken pipes over time. Instead, stick to a plunger or make use of a plumbing snake to clear them.

Use a product like BioBen if you are planning to leave your system shut off for a few weeks. Water will still remain in the pipes and could start smelling because it is not moving. This type of product will keep the water from stagnating and from smelling too bad.

Before you being a plumbing job, take a few key steps so that you can avoid any mishaps. Turn off all water supplies before starting a project. Make sure that you have protected items nearby with tarps to keep them from getting damaged by spraying water. It is better to be prepared than it is to deal with damage after the fact.

At least once a year remove the faucet aerator and clean the screens. This helps it properly function. The function of a faucet aerator is to allow for an even flow of water and to conserve water. Be sure to clean out the aerator and you’ll notice a these things working.

Make sure that you avoid throwing fats down the drain after you clean up your meal. Fats can solidify over time which can cause a drainage problem and corrupt your water flow. Throw out fats and different types of cooking oils in the garbage after you finish with your meal.

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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Keeping Your Pipes Free And Clear: Plumbing Tips From The Pros (3)

December 17, 2023   Matt

Keeping Your Pipes Free And Clear: Plumbing Tips From The Pros

Have you ever poured grease from a pan down your sink? Do you know how bad this can be for your plumbing system? Use the expert advice in this article for many more critical tips and tricks that you need to know in regards to your home plumbing.

If the water is not going into your dishwasher, the first thing you should do is shit off the water under the sink. Chances are that you have some kind of blockage, and keeping the water turned on could actually create a bigger problem. To fix the blockage, you may need to call a plumber.

To winterize a house that will sit unused during the winter months, you must completely drain all of the pipes. After turning off the main water supply, let all of the water drain from the faucets, toilets, and water heater (turn off the gas). Add a quart of antifreeze to sinks and the tub to prevent water from freezing in the drain trap.

Never mess with plumbing if you aren’t confident you can complete the task correctly. When it comes to your plumbing, there are serious implications to completing tasks incorrectly. The cost and damage can be severe if you do the work wrong. You should always seek out the assistance of a professional if you aren’t fully confident in your abilities.

If you have an odor coming from one or more fixtures in your house, it is likely this has to do with the water in water traps. Each fixture has a water trap that is sealed off to prevent odors. If the water evaporates, the odors can surface. Therefore, try adding water to the traps.

Sometimes you have to make the choice between replacing or repairing. If you have an old appliance, that uses a lot of water or electricity, it may be best to replace. Sure, it will cost more initially, but it will save you money in the long run. The other thing is, you can’t be sure how well a repair will work out, whereas with a new appliance you’ll at least get a guarantee.

If your drain in any device is taking longer to drain water, then you may need to have your pipes professionally cleaned depending on the severity of the circumstances. Before you do this, there are several different products you can try. However, some of them are professional strength and all products should be used with caution.

If you can’t turn off a main valve to your entire home when you go on vacation then turn off the valves to each water line. For example,if you live in an apartment, turn off the individual valves in your bathrooms and kitchen. Don’t forget to drain out your dishwasher’s hose and get the valves behind your toilets.

In conclusion, you now know how bad it is to put oil or grease down your drain. Even if you already knew that, you now know how important it is to avoid this and many other potential disastrous situations. Hopefully you can start using this advice today and have a well working plumbing system in your house.

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