Emergency Plumbing Systems - Thoughts To Consider
Find The Plumber That Does The Job Right
As fun as planning to do your own plumbing can seem, it is a very important reason to start learning how now. Another thing is that it can save you a lot of money in the future, so you can handle any issues yourself. These tips below can help you start.
Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage turn the main water supply off as well as any shut off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
You need to winter-proof your house. You have to make sure you switch of the master circuit breaker or the shut-off valve before you leave your house. Since one small hole or congested water can quickly freeze and cause pipes to break and expand, you need to drain and open all outdoor and household water lines.
Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water, it does not take much of a temperature change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a hard-to-reach clog forming in the future.
Do not let your faucet leak. Did you know a leaky faucet can waste about 150 gallons of water every day? If you have a leak, never ignore it. It could be coming from the faucet or the pipes. Continually check pipes and faucets for extra moisture or small leaks.
Make sure you clean out overflow holes in your kitchen and bathroom sinks on a regular basis. These holes are intended to act as an emergency fail-safe to prevent spillage from a full sink, but if they are clogged they can't do their job. You can clean out an overflow hole using the same techniques you would for a clogged drain.
During the winter, preventing frozen pipes when you live in a small dwelling can be something good to know. Frozen pipes will not only stop your flow of water but can crack and damage pipes. By running a little water out of every faucet during the coldest parts of the day, you can avoid this.
Don't shrug off that trickle coming from your toilet as a small problem. Even the tiniest leak can be quite expensive in the long run as you end up wasting potentially hundreds of gallons of water. See if you can find the root of the leak, or seek out professional advice, and keep your toilet running efficiently.
Treating your drains every month is a great way to avoid future clogs and other problems, and it's a very simple procedure. Just run one to two gallons of hot tap water down each drain in your house.
Clean the aerator to if you are dealing with low water pressure issues due to sediment buildup. Get rid of the aerator, remove it, and clean it with a brush dipped in some vinegar. Rinse your aerator, put it back together and back into the faucet. Clean the aerator, it might increase your water pressure.
Beware of black water in your toilet tank. Chances are, the color is caused from too much magnesium or iron in your water. Although this is usually harmless, it can be annoying for some people. If it is iron or magnesium in your water, the only way to fix it is by filtering the water.
When having a consultation about a job with the plumber, take the opportunity to get to know them andtheir business better. Ask about their experience with the type of job that you are wanting to have done. Being comfortable with your contractor is important. They may be spending significant amounts of time in your house depending on the complexity of the job. You want to be convinced that they're up to the task.
One way to avoid a common plumbing problem is to make sure never to flush anything but human waste and toilet paper down a toilet. Other things made of paper like tissues, paper towels, and the like do not dissolve the same way toilet paper does and can get stuck.
Regular maintenance of your plumbing lines is a great idea. Your options are getting your lines snaked or jetted. Jetted is a technology that is proven more effective than snaking is. It gets deeper and cleans harder. So jetting is a good idea next time you are having maintenance performed on your lines.
When it comes to plumbing, there is never an unsolvable problem. If you feel yourself becoming frustrated with the project, you should try to take a break from what you are working on. The greatest mistakes start to happen when you become angry and inpatient, so take a break and walk outside.
Do not put stringy or fibrous items into your garbage disposal. Substances like banana peels, gristle, or celery may not completely break down in the disposal, and may clog your pipes instead of flowing out of the waste lines as they are supposed to. When in doubt, do not try to dispose of something that may not break down completely.
If you have a gas water heater, you should regularly check the pilot light for excessive soot buildup. Excessive soot buildup can cause a clogged flue, which can lead to carbon monoxide leaking into your home. Thus, a regular check up of the pilot light is very important in making sure there isn't a buildup of soot.
If you notice that water has saturated your walls, reach for the shutoff valve and notify a plumber right away. This particular problem is often a sign of a major plumbing issue. Many issues related to this cause mildew and mold, as well as flooding.
Remove all foreign objects from your drain, before you clean the area with chemicals. These objects include all kitchen utensils, fruit pits and certain types of metal objects. These cannot be flushed down your drain and could damage your unit significantly, if you put them through the garbage disposal.
In closing, knowing your way inside and outside plumbing is website a handy trait to have. You'll be an awesome resource for your friends and family, and you can also save yourself a lot of cash, as well. Hopefully this article proved interesting and useful.
Cold snap keeps plumbers busy with frozen-pipe calls
For some homeowners, having a plumber show up on their doorstep on Christmas Eve was better than having Santa come down the chimney.
Plumbing companies have been inundated with calls for help with frozen pipes, backyard irrigation lines and even some water mains during the cold snap.
“We had 60 calls over the Christmas weekend. It was crazy,” said Wade Roberts of Wade Roberts Plumbing. “On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we had one technician on call and another one helped out the one on call. They did a little bit of work together to help keep things going, but it’s impossible to keep up with that kind of call volume. It’s wild.”
It’s a bit of a sacrifice to be on call and away from family during the holidays, said Roberts.
“But the reward is great in the reaction you get from clients when you show up and fix their problem on a night like Christmas Eve,” he said.
“One of the technicians who was on all this Christmas was on call last Christmas as well and he wanted to be back out there because of the reaction and the thankfulness.
“One of the hot-water tanks he did last Christmas Eve, he put a big bow on it for the clients and wore a Santa hat and they were just thrilled. It can be rewarding for sure.”
To keep the plumber from your doorstep, Roberts strongly advises people to disconnect hoses from their outside taps and make sure the outside taps are shut off.
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