Plumbing difficulties can be a huge problem for homeowners. You often have to wait for a plumber to make a house call, and you may end up paying a lot for a repair you could have made on your own. Read on to find out how to make plumbing problems easy!
Pump out your septic tank at least every five years to keep it in proper working condition. Having your septic pumped will keep sediments from settling to the bottom of the septic tank and causing the tank to malfunction or backup. It will cost some to have the septic tank pumped, but it would cost much more to have it cleaned, repaired or replaced due to sewage back up.
Knowing all your different tools and how they are used will be a great help when you work on a plumbing job. Read each and every manual, and utilize the information that can be found in libraries and the Internet about do-it-yourself projects. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, because it can be expensive to fix mistakes.
It is important to clean your garbage disposal often to keep it functioning for many years. By regularly using a mixture of dish soap, cherry pits and citrus rinds, you can ensure that your disposal runs smoothly and smells as fresh as one that is brand new.
Look at the overflow holes to ensure they aren’t clogged up. 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. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
It is important to run your faucet with cold water whenever you run your garbage disposal. Using cold water not only preserves the sharpness of the blades, but also makes the disposal process itself smoother. Avoid using hot water, as this will liquefy grease, causing it to build up in the drain and obstruct your pipes.
If you are seeing water at the bottom of the dishwasher, most likely this is due to a faulty setup of the hose that leads from the kitchen sink. This hose should lead uphill first and then downhill so the water from the sink and the dishwater never mix.
Do not use your toilet to get rid of garbage. Avoid flushing pads, cotton, towels, tissues or anything that cannot dissolve easily to avoid plugging the pipes. Additionally, use the minimum amount of toilet paper required to clean up after you are done.
Use a cleaner that is enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. A enzyme-based cleaner will remove the clog by turning it into a liquid, freeing it from the drain. The enzyme cleaners typically are the best things you can find on the market.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
