Nobody really wants to think about having a huge plumbing issue in their home that requires a plumbe...

1. Information To Utilize When Dealing with Plumbing
Nobody really wants to think about having a huge plumbing issue in their home that requires a
plumber. That's because it can get expensive and can ruin your floors and other items in your home,
if it gets out of hand. Never fear because you can learn to do your own to prevent such problems by
following these tips below.
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.
Find a better way to discard of cooking oil
instead of pouring it down the drain where it can
easily clog your pipes. Keep a coffee can or other
metal container handy to pour grease into after
cooking. Place the can in the freezer to harden
the grease and when it's full, discard it with the
trash.
Water that leaves behind pink or orange tinged
stains has an excessive amount of iron. A water
softener will take care of the issue. This can
either be done by yourself, or you can hire a
professional to come and take care of.
Before you can fix a toilet that does not flush
properly, it is important that you find out what is
causing the problem. Depending on what the
problem is, you may be able to fix it yourself. However, more complicated toilet flushing problems
may require the services of a plumber.
One way to prevent pipes from freezing during the winter is to keep cabinet doors in your house that
contain the pipes open. This can insure that they get adequate heat to keep warm. Make sure also,
to unhook and kind of hose outside and run a little water to clear the pipes of any remaining water
going outside.
Everyone in your home should know where the main water shut off valve is. By knowing where to
find this valve, you'll be able to shut off the water in the event https://bitly.com/u/o_3gnueig46s a
pipe bursts, a bathtub or toilet overflows or any other emergency that requires you to turn off the
water.
Make sure to pour a gallon or two of water into drains that are used infrequently. Not only does this
make sure that they are clear when you need them, but can also fill the trap and make sure that
unpleasant odors don't enter your home. Doing this periodically will also help you to catch problems

2. before they become serious.
As winter approaches, be sure that your external faucets are not dripping and leaking. If they are, it
is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing. No matter
what material your pipes are constructed from, the additional pressure that results from freezing
water will crack them. Even a very small crack can cause significant water damage or even can flood
your entire home.
Watch how your toilets are flushing. If you have to jiggle the handle or if it takes too long, you might
have to repair some toilet parts. Replacing these parts early may help you to save on your water bills
and will save you from more expensive repairs at a later date.
If you have problems with a slow drain, there are easier things you can do other than removing the
pipes to clean it. There are certain tools made just for this purpose that you insert into the drain to
loosen the clog so it washes away or grab it and remove it completely.
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.
Make sure that you check all of the connections after doing any work on a hot water heater,
especially pipes that connect to the pipe used for drainage. The recirculation pipe helps hot water
circulate through your plumbing system so that you won't waste water while heating it.
Have a specific plumber in mind before you have an emergency. Most people don't think about
plumbers until they find themselves having a big problem that needs to be fixed right away. Instead,
choose a plumber who you are comfortable with and whose experience you trust--way before you
actually need his services.
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.
A great way to save a few dollars is to add insulation to your hot water heater. Much of the energy
required to heat the water in your home is the expense from keeping the water in the tank hot for
when it is needed. Adding an extra layer of insulation can help reduce this cost.
Hair can clog your drains if you do not clean them regularly. You could also get some screens to
place over your drains to keep most of the hair from going down. Hair usually breaks down, but it
can cause your drains to back up if they are present in large quantity.
Kitchen and bathroom plumbing is often located on exterior walls and freezes more easily than
interior wall plumbing. Keep your furnace at a safe temperature throughout the winter and open
cabinet doors in bathroom vanities and beneath kitchen sinks to
http://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing expose the pipes to warmer room air to prevent freezing.
Every so often you should check your toilet for leaks. A good way to check for leaks would be to put
food coloring, Kool-Aid, or even coffee in the tank, anything that will color the water will work. You
should check your toilet bowl in a little bit, and if there is color in the bowl, your toilet is leaking and
the stopper and/or flush valve may need changed.

3. There is no doubt that many of the common maintenance and repair jobs that need doing on your
plumbing are things that you are well capable of. You just need to adopt a cautious and methodical
approach. Don't rush anything or take chances and you'll be fine. And, if you're a husband, you can
score major brownie points with your wife!