Tag Archives: Problems

Plumbing Problems? Solve Them With These Top Tips 8

August 19, 2022   Matt

Plumbing Problems? Solve Them With These Top Tips

Now is the time to finally learn more about plumbing. You have considered it before but just never set the time aside to do so. Read the great advice in this article and you will be happy that you finally took the time to do so if you ever have any plumbing issues.

It’s important to know how to turn off the water in your home in case the worst happens. For example, if your bathroom sink started leaking, do you know how to stop it? Walk around your home and find all the shut-off valves for each set of pipes and write them down. Create a map so you can always have a reference if necessary.

Run dishwashers and washing machines at night, or during times when people are not using that much water. This will keep water pressure strong for showers and other things, while making sure that dishwashing and laundry still takes place in a timely manner. It also preserves energy costs and use.

Tub drains can get clogged by hair and debris easily, but may be hard to access. Make use of an afghan hook to reach in and snag clogging materials. These hooks are available at most craft stores. Use slow, measured movements to avoid breaking the hair as you are pulling it out.

If you are considering a plumbing improvement in your home, consider the costs of hiring a professional vs. doing-it-yourself. After thinking about how much it will cost you to figure out what the appropriate pipes to use are, the time it will take to learn the trade and the time needed to learn the mapping of your plumbing system, you may find it cheaper to hire a professional.

To improve the efficiency of your water heater, you need to determine what size hot water tank your household needs. Knowing the number of people and appliances that use hot water in your home will let you know what size hot water tank will be the best for your home.

If one of your water pipes freezes, turn on the tap to the faucet nearest the pipe so that the water has somewhere to exit as the pipe thaws. This helps to relieve the pressure in the pipe and may prevent bursting, which can cause further damage to your home.

Garbage disposals are convenient kitchen accessories but you have to take care to use them properly. When rinsing food down the drain, always use cold water, as hot water can liquefy the grease, which can coagulate and build up over time. You can help to clean the disposal by grinding egg shells or fruit pits in it from time to time. In addition, avoid putting items such as bones, glass, paper, potato peels, cooking oil, coffee grounds and harsh chemicals in a disposal, as these can cause a variety of plumbing problems.

In conclusion, it is extremely valuable that you know your way around a plumbing system. You will be a great resource to your family and friends and potentially save yourself quite a bit of money as well. Hopefully you were able to understand all of the concepts covered here and found it to be interesting.

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Handle Your Plumbing Problems With These Tips

July 15, 2022   Matt

Handle Your Plumbing Problems With These Tips

Anytime you have a plumbing problem, you do not need to get stressed out. This article will give you some tips to learn how to handle plumbing problems. Remember to take your time when fixing anything yourself so that you do not cause any further damage from happening to your pipes.

If you live in an environment where winters get cold, it is crucial that you prepare your pipes for the winter. Leaving pipes as is can cause them to freeze which can create severe plumbing issues. Have your faucet open a little bit when it is really cold to prevent frozen pipes.

If your water is coming out black, then most likely you have an iron and magnesium issue to your water. You need to contact a water softener company, and get them to come out and assess your water. They will be able to fix the problem by adding a water softener.

Be careful about using liquid clog cleaners. These liquids can contain chemicals that are extremely bad for your pipes. Instead, use a snake or a plunger to dislodge any clogs you might encounter. Be sure to try these things before giving up and calling a plumber, who will probably re-perform those same acts.

Check for standing water in your yard which can be a direct result of leaking pipes. Standing water can cause an increased level of damage to your lawn and will attract bacteria and insects. Reduce your level of standing water to put your family and home in the most secure position.

Set the temperature on your hot water heater to a temperature that does not exceed 120 degrees. This helps to save energy and prevents the water from becoming too hot and potentially scalding someone in your household. Older models that do not have a temperature setting should be set on Medium.

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.

Before you start a plumbing project you should tighten all of the pipes that are easily accessible. Especially if your pipes are making a range of loud banging sounds, as this is a clear sign that there are loose pipes along the line. It is also a good idea in case there is a clog so the excess pressure released does not break a loose pipe.

Solder with safety in mind. When you solder a copper pipe you want to direct the flame on the copper pipe. The flame of the torch has to be four inches away from the piping. The flame should be targeted directly at the point where the copper piping needs to be disconnected.

You have learned many ways to handle a wide variety of plumbing problems. Take the advice in this article to use as a guide. If you have any further questions, make sure to take the time to find the answers using the internet or a professional so that you know exactly what you are doing before you start.

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Problems With Your Pipes? Plumbing Tips That You Can Use (3)

June 27, 2022   Matt

Problems With Your Pipes? Plumbing Tips That You Can Use

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.

When dealing with a plumbing issue that is outside the home, understand that all of it is not yours to repair. The city is responsible for part of this plumbing so don’t do repairs on it unless it is yours. If the work is done improperly, you can be held liable for any damages.

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.

While it may seem like a seemingly harmless thing to do, never run potato peels through your garbage disposal. The chemical make up of this seemingly harmless food allows the potato to turn into a thick, viscous substance that can wreak havoc on the disposal itself, with the potential to render it completely useless.

Do a routine check around your house each month on each and every faucet to make sure there are no signs of leaks or drips. Over time, leaks can add a lot of money to your water bill and will worsen if you do not take care of the problem.

Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!

If you have minor ceiling stains from plumbing water damage that has been repaired, you might not have to repaint the entire ceiling. Try taking a solution of bleach and water and dabbing the area with a sponge to lighten them. Make sure you protect your hands and eyes when working over your head.

Insulating pipes in unheated areas of your house can save you the headache of burst pipes and flooding down the road. If you find that a room with pipes is especially cold, you should also use caulk to seal any holes in the walls, or any cracks around windows to ensure no drafts get in.

You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch of the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand, you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.

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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Tips For Fixing Plumbing Problems On Your Own 3

June 20, 2022   Matt

Tips For Fixing Plumbing Problems On Your Own

Did you know that a leaky spray head on your kitchen sink might be caused by a faulty diverter? If this peaks your interest or if you want to know more about plumbing, then you will want to read what else we have to provide in this article about how to take care of plumbing in your home.

Protect you plumbing pipes! If you live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also, make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frozen and bursting pipes from harsh winter weather is a problem that no-one wants, so plan now to winterize your exterior faucets and pipes against freezing conditions. A simple way to accomplish this is to find the exterior water shut-off valve located inside your home (often located in the basement). Turn off the water valve to stop water flow, and then open up the outside faucets to drain out any water that has collected. Be sure to turn off the outside water faucets tightly after the water has drained out. Take in any hoses you may have outside so they don’t crack from the cold weather.

While it might help to conserve a bit of water to not flush the toilet after every use or only under certain conditions, regularly flushing toilets can help keep water moving in pipes and prevent freezing. The same holds true for letting water run in sinks as well. If you have rarely used bathrooms in your home, make it point to to flush the toilets and run the faucets on a regular basis.

If you are going on vacation, look for individual valves under each of your sinks. Turn off water for each appliance. If you live in an apartment building, you will not be able to shut off your system completely but will have to turn off individual valves to prevent any leak from ruining your apartment.

If you are having any kind of problems with your water line or plumbing in general then you will first want to cut of your water supply. One of the most common mistakes that people make is to leave their water running while they are trying to fix things and this leads to bigger problems.

Drain the sediment from the bottom of your hot water heater twice a year to keep the hot water heater working at its optimal levels. Simply open the drain valve and allow the water to run out into a bucket until the water runs clear. Then close the drain valve.

In conclusion, that leaky faucet may just be easier to fix than you imagined. Instead of making a call to a plumber, having to wait, and then paying out top dollar, you can now fix it yourself. Use this advice to put yourself in the best financial situation possible when it comes to plumbing.

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Plumbing Problems Getting You Down? Read This! 3

June 15, 2022   Matt

Plumbing Problems Getting You Down? Read This!

If you’ve ever hired a professional plumber for something simple, you know how expensive and annoying the experience can be. If you’d like to save a little cash by learning how to solve your own plumbing problems, read on. This article will give you the knowledge you need for your own plumbing repair.

You can remove unsightly mineral buildup from your shower head by soaking it in vinegar overnight. This loosens the deposits, and in the morning you only need to wipe off the residue with a rag. If your shower head is high up an not removable, place vinegar in a plastic bag, slip the bag over the shower head and hold in place with a twist tie.

When it comes to plumbing a great choice is to invest in brass fittings. Sure, they may be more expensive upfront, however their longevity is amazing compared to the alternatives, so you end up saving money. As an added bonus, the brass fittings look so much better than the other alternatives.

When you are going to do laundry in your home washing machine, do not use excess detergent, bleach or other chemicals. Too many of these products can cause the natural bacteria in your septic system to be killed. Just use enough of these products in order to get your laundry done.

If you have a plumbing nightmare and your house gets flooded, avoid using heat and heat lamps to dry the property out. Let it dry naturally if you can because the additional heat can cause problems. When building materials dry too fast, they can warp and crack causing more damage than just the water.

Drain the sediment from the bottom of your hot water heater twice a year to keep the hot water heater working at its optimal levels. Simply open the drain valve and allow the water to run out into a bucket until the water runs clear. Then close the drain valve.

If you plan on doing any work to your plumbing you must ensure that you know what the codes and laws are where you live. You need to know exactly how far a pipe has to be from electrical, for example, or how large a pipe must be to be to code.

Do a routine check around your house each month on each and every faucet to make sure there are no signs of leaks or drips. Over time, leaks can add a lot of money to your water bill and will worsen if you do not take care of the problem.

Never pour grease down the kitchen-sink drain. This will help you avoid clogs in your kitchen sink. Place grease in a can or other receptacles and dispose of in the trash. Grease that has congealed on pots, and pans can be wiped off with paper towels that can be thrown in the trash.

As you can see, hiring a professional plumber is usually an unnecessary and expensive thing to do, compared to fixing the problem yourself. Next time your plumbing needs repair, try pulling up this article and trying to solve it yourself. You may be surprised how easy it is to do!

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Pipe Problems? Try These Great Tips On Plumbing! (2)

June 12, 2022   Matt

Pipe Problems? Try These Great Tips On Plumbing!

Plumbing encompasses a lot of things. It covers items such as sinks, showers pipes, waste systems, etc. There are so many ways that one can can maintain and repair their own system for their own home needs. This article has advice that can help you find what you need to know to start.

You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch of the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand, you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.

You should consider getting a stainless steel sink if you are in need of a new sink. Stainless steel sinks are much better than other ones for many reasons. They are more durable, they absorb shock, they are easier to clean, and they go with almost any decor.

If water is not coming to the dishwasher, you most likely have a blockage somewhere. You will need to turn off the water supply and remove the hose that leads to the dishwasher. After securing the hose, turn the water back on. See if it feeds into a bowl. If not, then you must find the block where it is at which may include removing more piping.

Work with plumbers that offer flat rates. When a plumber is charging by the hour, they do not have an incentive to get the job done quickly. It is human nature to go just a little bit slower if it’ll mean extra money in our pockets. If you cannot find someone who charges per project make sure that you are vigilant in watching the clock and their work.

You always want to solder correctly, the biggest mistake most people make when soldering is failing to get the interior of the fitting and the exterior of the pipe clean and shiny. Polish these surfaces with a fine emery clot until bright. When soldering, never heat the pipe, but instead heat the fitting. Doing so allows the solder to be drawn into the fitting by capillary action.

The water heater in your home needs to have regular flushing to its plumbing in order to work properly. There is usually a valve at the bottom of the water heater that a hose can be attached to. Connect a hose to this valve and open it up all the way to flush scale and deposits out of the system.

Check the filters in your furnace, regularly. If these filters have not been cleaned or replaced recently, they may become clogged. This will affect how well your furnace is able to work, meaning that you may not have enough heat during the winter. Take this simple step, as soon as the weather starts to become cold.

In conclusion, plumbing is a very broad subject that covers a lot of everyday home improvements. There are some right ways and wrong ways to do it, but there is so much room for learning. Hopefully, this article gave you some advice on how to make plumbing work for you.

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