Is your plumbing decent? Do you wish to improve on it? If you are open to learning these things, the following article is for you. This article contains tips and advice to help you better understand the confusing world of plumbing.
Don’t let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. Pipes have the potential to freeze if the surrounding temperatures are below the freezing mark. In the very least, you could lose running water inside while waiting for the pipes to unfreeze. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, leading to flooding and costly repairs.
Avoid septic tank problems by having your tank pumped out in five year intervals. This prevents sediment from building up in the tank and causing a backup into your home or causing the failure of the septic system itself. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Avoid using any tablets that are meant to reduce odor in and around your toilet. While they may be effective deodorizers, they can damage rubber parts in your toilet. If they become too damaged, your toilet will not operate properly.
If your toilet happens to be clogged, and the plunger is not working, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, but be sure to pour it from a height that is waist level or above so you do not flood the bathroom. Repeat this as many times as necessary until your clog is gone, and you can flush normally once again.
Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. When they cool off, they become hard and will clog your pipes. Your garbage disposal is particularly vulnerable to this issue, as the fat solids will slow the motion of the blades. This results in the disposal operating less efficiently. Make sure you dispose of oils away from the sink.
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 the drain with an old rag, because there will be a chemical reaction taking place inside the pipes. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. This procedure should be able to clear pipes of hair and soap scum.
It is important to always run cold water while using your garbage disposal. The cold water keeps your blades sharp, which helps your disposal run smooth. Using hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate in the drain, which will cause clogs in your pipes.
You should feel more confident about plumbing by now. Hopefully, the things you learned in this article will yield positive results and the feeling of satisfaction every time you make a plumbing repair. If not, continue to research more tips and learn more about plumbing.