It is a common occurrence after you purchase a home to eventually see plumbing problems start to crop up. The bathroom and kitchen are the most frequent sites for these problems. At some time, everyone who owns a home will have some type of problem with the plumbing. The following advice will assist you, should this situation arise.
Having your septic tank pumped out on a regular basis will keep it functioning properly. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. 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.
Learning the basics is important with plumbing problems, including how to use the common plumbing tools. You should read the manual with any new tool you purchase. If you don’t have the manual, look online or at your local library for more information. You should do the same amount of research on the steps required for your project. Plan thoroughly before attempting a repair. Mistakes can be very expensive to fix.
Do not attempt to fix your garbage disposal by reaching in with your hands. A garbage disposal can be dangerous, even when it is not on. Hire a professional, or at least find your owner’s manual to look at a diagram of the disposal. Many owner’s manuals are available online, and may even contain interactive troubleshooters.
If you want to make sure your garbage disposal is going to be around as long as the house it is inside of, make sure you clean it often. You can use dish soap, lemon peels, and cherry pits to get your garbage disposal clean and fresh and running well.
Be sure that the overflow holes are free of debris. Overflows holes can be used in the event the sink overfills, which is a big problem if they are clogged. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.
Installing efficient shower heads could save you a lot of money when it comes to your energy bill. The majority of hot water is consumed by showers. By installing an energy-efficient shower head that might cost a few dollars, you could save at least $100 a year per person who showers in your house.
Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket to keep potential problems to a minimum. Avoid flushing pads, cotton, towels, tissues or anything that cannot dissolve easily to avoid plugging the pipes. Try to minimize the amount of toilet tissue that gets flushed, too – but don’t neglect basic hygiene!
Choose enzyme based cleaners if your pipes get clogged. These types of cleaners will use natural bacteria so that the sludge will turn into liquid form, and be removed from your pipes. The best these days are the enzyme cleaners.
The worst thing you can do is to be unprepared when a plumbing problem arises. Invest in the proper tools, and learn the proper techniques for common plumbing problems. Avoid a huge plumbing issue by learning to handle the smaller issues as they occur.