Finding issues with the plumbing after purchasing a new home is not an uncommon experience. Most plumbing problems are found in the kitchen and bathroom. Plumbing troubles are an expected part of home ownership. The following advice will assist you, should this situation arise.
Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing.
Pipes will freeze if they are exposed to temperatures below freezing. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
Only pay pay the plumber once the job is done. Although you might be required to pay a down payment before the job is initiated, never pay the bill in full until you are certain that the job is completed to your satisfaction.
It is vital that you check your plumber has done all the work he promised before you have over the full payment. This will protect you against being scammed by fraudulent tradesmen.
Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. While these tablets may be an easy way to clean your toilet and hide odors, they also contain chemicals that can break down the rubber fixtures in your toilet. Long-term use of these products can slow or even stop the functioning of your toilet.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Anytime there is something caught in your kitchen drain, you should clean it out. Keep the bathroom drains cleaned out too.
To keep things flowing smoothly through the drain of your bathtub, each month you should feed it baking soda, one cup’s worth, with a cup of vinegar to chase it. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Wait a while, then flush it with boiling water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. These passages allow your sink to fill up without overflowing onto your floor, and if they’re blocked that can cause you a major headache. The overflow holes should be cleaned out regularly; do this when you are making your regular checks for other issues that necessitate fixing.
To keep your garbage disposal working at its best, use plenty of cold water when you turn it on. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly. If you use hot water, any grease in the disposal will turn into liquid, while causes pipe clogging.
Calling a plumber for every issue will add up to a huge bill, so it’s important to deal with small plumbing issues yourself as they arise. All homeowners should have some basic plumbing knowledge. The tips you learned here will assist you in dealing with whatever plumbing problems you encounter in the future.
