You may not know this, but plumbing is actually a fairly simple concept, when approached correctly. ...

1. Recommendations For People Attempting To Do Their Own
Plumbing
You may not know this, but plumbing is actually a fairly simple concept, when approached correctly.
Once you have a good understanding of how everything works, then even the largest projects will
appear to http://www.homeadvisor.com/category.Plumbing.10216.html be a lot more simple. Read
on for more great advice about plumbing in your home.
To avoid clogs, pay attention to what you flush. Sanitary napkins, thick toilet paper and baby wipes
should never be flushed. These items can expand and cause a clog, or get caught on a pipe. Instead,
dispose of them in a sanitary way that does not involve flushing them down the toilet.
Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While
the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water, it does not take much of a temperature
change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping
grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a sewer rodding evanston hard-to-reach clog forming
in the future.
Make sure everyone that lives in your house knows where to find and use the main water shut off
valve in case there is a burst pipe emergency. This is especially important if you live in an area
where your pipes may freeze. Take a moment to show your family members where the valve is and
how to properly shut it off.
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.
You can check your toilet for leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring, Kool Aid or some coffee
grounds to the water in the toilet's tank (not the water in the bowl). Check the water in the bowl
after a half hour or so. If any of the coloring agent is visible in the water in the bowl, the tank is
leaking, and you will have to have it repaired.
Some people have problems with their plumbing system in that the pipes sweat and drip
condensation. You do not have to hire a plumber to take care of this nuisance. You can purchase self-
adhesive drip tape from your local hardware store. This drip tape will insulate your "sweating" pipes
which are dripping with moisture built up from condensation. To make sure the tape sticks firmly,
dry the pipe thoroughly before applying the tape.
If your house uses well water and there are orange or pink stains in tubs or sinks, it's because of the
iron level in the water. This is something that needs to be taken care of by water softener, which you
can buy at a store, or have a company come out to your house and take care of it for you.
Cover pipes that are outside or in cool areas. Use heat tape to make sure that the pipes are
completely covered and insulated. This will prevent frozen pipes in the winter, which can be an
expensive problem. Check outdoor pipes for other problems such as leaks and cracks which are
better to catch early.

2. If the pipes have burst in an upstairs area, use a tool to perforate the ceiling underneath in several
places and places pots and pans under to catch the water. If this is not done, the weight of the
accumulating water could cause a collapse of the entire ceiling.
If you are thinking about becoming a plumber yourself, then you should first try to start out as an
apprentice. If you can find a good mentor then you will learn a great deal more from watching and
assisting him than you possibly could learn by working on projects alone.
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.
Be sure to have a running toilet fixed as soon as you can. Having a running toilet uses more water,
which raises your water bill. To fix it yourself, you just have to find out what the problem is and buy
the supplies you need. If you can't fix it yourself, call a plumber.
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.
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.
If you install a new water heater, and you start to have a leak from the pressure relief valve, you may
need an expansion tank installed. The pressure increases when the functioning of the water heater is
being performed properly. Therefore, with your new water heater, it may be necessary to have an
expansion tank as well.
Avoid over-tightening water faucet handles. Use only enough pressure to stop the water from
flowing and dripping from the faucet. Anything else is overkill and will quickly wear out the gaskets
and washers inside those handles and cause leaking or the inability to stop the water from coming
out of the faucet.
To prevent exposed pipes under your home from freezing during the winter, use foam pipe insulation
or electric heat tape to cover your pipes according to the manufacturer's directions. A burst pipe can
cause damage and high water bills, so preventing freezing and bursting is essential during the
coldest months of the year.
Plumbing is something that can be done as a hobby, or as a way to make some extra money. If you
feel that your skills have progressed a good deal, then you could consider using it is as a way to
supplement your primary income by helping out neighbors and co-workers.

3. In conclusion, you do not want to find
yourself stuck paying for a large bill
given to you by your local plumber when
it was a task that you could have easily
taken care of yourself. Use this article in
order to establish a firm base knowledge
of plumbing and what you can do.