Helpful Information For Working On Your Pipes

 

 

Have you ever had a plumbing problem that you felt you couldn't solve on your own? Was the problem just over your head? Were you afraid of what might happen if you mess with things you don't understand? Read on to find out how to become more confident about solving problems next time your plumbing goes wrong.

 

 

If you have noisy pipes that sound like hammering or squeaking, this is something that is easy to fix. Anchoring exposed pipes will decrease the amount of noise your plumbing system makes. If pipes are located in the floor, ceiling or walls, you might want to have a professional help you complete the project.

 

Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. This stop sedimentary particles from accumulating in the tank, and in the worst cases, flooding your home or making the entire system to fail. While you may find it costly to get your septic tank cleaned out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.

 

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.

 

Avoid the bursting of pipes due to the change in the temperature. You need to allow the flow of heat to reach under the sinks and into the pipes, you have to keep the cabinet doors of the bathrooms and kitchens open. It is important to keep water running at both hot and cold faucets along with vanities that are in close proximity to exterior walls.

 

Use a hairdryer to thaw frozen pipes, after you shut off the water to the house. A hairdryer will gently heat the pipe and thaw the ice without causing significant damage to the pipe. Shutting off the water first means that if the pipe is broken, there will be no rush of water into the house.

 

To avoid having your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter, detach all hoses before the first freeze. Also, close the shutoff valve that leads to the outdoor faucets, then turn on the outdoor faucets to let any remaining water in the lines drain. Once temperatures warm up in the spring, you can reverse the process.

 

It is important to run your faucet with cold water whenever you run your garbage disposal. The blades will stay sharper, and the overall disposal process will run smoother. Hot water can clog your drain by allowing liquid grease to build up in it.

 

One of the things that you can do to maximize the security of your home is to seal all of the cracks in your outdoor faucets. Even a tiny crack can intensify as the season progresses and lead to serious problems down the road. Reduce drips and leaks for optimal protection.

 

Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!

 

To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in you basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.

 

If water is flooding your home, immediately switch off the main electrical power. If water comes into contact with any electrical components, it can become a fatal situation. Once the power is off, then deal with the flood water. Put your own and your family's personal safety first, and show each member of the family how to shut off the power.

 

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.

 

Make sure any plumber that you hire can handle the type of job you have. There are many aspects to plumbing and many contractors can do almost all of them, but some are better suited to doing work involved in specific areas. If need a plumber for your septic system, get one that specializes in septic systems.

 

As you can see, plumbing isn't such a scary thing, it just requires proper knowledge and instruction. Fixing your own plumbing can save a lot of money. Hopefully this article has given you at least a few of the ideas that you need, so that next time your plumbing has a problem, you can fix it yourself.