You've done it. You're ready to handle your home's plumbing maintenance and repair. What perfect tim...

1. Small Plumbing Tips For A New Home Owner
You've done it. You're ready to handle your home's plumbing maintenance and repair. What perfect
timing! You probably have tons of questions on how to start and what to do, but fear not, this article
can help you. Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your plumbing
aspirations.
Do not try to sell a product that you do not agree with. This includes paying attention to the
company itself and their values and policies. If you have any qualms about the company, your
customers will pick up on it. You want to be a full supporter of the product you are selling
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.
Look closely at your toilets several times throughout the year. Check to see if there are any leaks
that you may not have noticed; you can do this by placing five or six drops of food coloring in the
tank. If there is a leak, the color will seep into the bowl within half an hour. This process will help
you catch a small problem before it gets too out of control.
Learning the basics is important with plumbing problems, including how to use the common
plumbing tools. Read the instructions, which many people overlook, and check out the internet
which has many resources to help with plumbing issues. Think ahead and learn everything you can
before tackling a plumbing repair project. If you make things worse rather than better, you'll have to
pay expensive plumbing fees to fix the problems.
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.
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
before they become serious.
If your sink is letting rusty water out and it will not drain, it is mostly likely because of the biological
scum and grease that is built up in the pipes. You need to have your drains professionally cleaned,
allowing maximum flow through your drains. Your drains must be open completely.
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.
If you have any plumbing work that needs to be done, schedule it all to be done concurrently. You
might be tempted to call the plumber every time you need something fixed, but if you wait and hire
the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. You will also save because

2. plumbers usually charge hourly rates, so hours they can charge you are reduced if there is only one
trip made.
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.
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.
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.
When looking for a plumber, you have quite a few
options. Ask friends for recommendations of who they use. Check online for plumbers with good
reviews and references. Use your yellow pages and look under "Plumbing Contractors" or
"Plumbing, Drain and Sewer Cleaning". Make sure that you contact more than one plumber before
making a choice.
When you are working with plumbing, you also need to have some basic skills in other areas. This is
especially true of electrical problems, as the two systems often overlap. This doesn't mean that you
need to solve the problems, but that you understand what the problems could be.
To clear mineral deposits from your showerhead, try a soak in white vinegar. Simply add a cup or
two of vinegar to a plastic bag and tape it around the showerhead, ensuring that it is submerged.
Leave the bag on for an hour, and the vinegar will dissolve the mineral build-up, allowing water to
gush through like it was when it was new.
You chicago plumber need to snake your washing machine drain stack if it overflows with a pipe
snake. Lint, coins, paper and other small items can get expelled in the wash, leading to a drain clog.
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.
As was shown in the above article, there are many plumbing issues that can be handled by someone
other than a plumber. Once you http://www.drain-clogged.com/ take the time to read how to do it,
you will be amazed at the things you will be doing without the expense of an expert.