Great Plumbing Tips You Can Do On Your Own
Everyone has plumbing issues, here and there. Not only do people want information about fixing problems that might crop up, they also want general information about plumbing around the house. This article will help you with both repairs and maintenance, so that you are prepared to deal with any plumbing situation you may face.
If you have pipes that make hammering and squeaking noises, you have one easy repair. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. You might want to contact a professional when the pipes are hard to access.
If you have noisy pipes, you can cushion them with a rubber blanket or add additional anchor straps. Banging pipes are usually caused by loose pipes, water hammering to a stop as you turn it off, or hot water pipes shifting in their position. All of these problems can be solved by cushioning and anchoring the pipes.
To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to do the repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek the services of a plumber to make the repairs.
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.
Have all your plumbing needs scheduled all at once. You may want to have each minor problem attended to as the occur, but having multiple repairs done at once allows you to save up for the cost. Because plumbers generally round up to the nearest hour, this also allows you to save money. The time only gets rounded up once, rather than multiple times.
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.
Always remember to keep your dryer's lint trap clean. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Make sure that you inspect the lint trap for any holes or tears that might mean lint is going to your pipes, which might lead to clogs and other problems to deal with.
Have your pipes in your plumbing system frozen? You can skip the cost of hiring a plumber by using this method. First, open the faucet so steam produced by the thawing process can escape. Begin thawing close to the faucet, and move down the line as each section thaws out. Use a hair dryer or a heat lamp to warm along the pipe. Even though this method consumes quite a bit of time, it is safer than most other heating methods. Furthermore, it requires no cleanup.
You have not choice in the matter of what plumber is scheduled sometimes, but you should still research different plumbers online. When your insurance company takes care of choosing a plumber for you, it is important to still look at their website, reviews and any customer comments they have. This will allow you to feel prepared when they come to your house.
As the weather is becoming colder due to the coming of winter, be sure that your external faucets do not have leaks or drips. If there is any leaking or dripping, this needs to be fixed before the temperature falls below freezing. Regardless of what the pipes in your house are made out of, freezing water will cause them to crack. Even the smallest of cracks can leak enough to damage or flood your home.
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.
Teach your children how to notice plumbing problems. Many parents handle plumbing issues without sharing that information with their children, who grow up not knowing anything about plumbing. Any time you make a small repair or notice a problem, call your kids in and explain what the problem is and what you are going to do. Educate them so they can make good decisions in the future.
It is important to educate yourself in advance before a problem arises. Performing regular preventive maintenance is a great way to keep problems at bay. Use the advice in this article to be better prepared to handle any plumbing problem that may arise in your future.