If you are first learning about plumbing, it can be a little overwhelming. Though like everything else, if you do a little research, learning, and take a lesson or two, you can pick it up fairly easily. This article offers some beginner-friendly advice for maintaining the plumbing in and around your own home.
You always want to solder correctly, the biggest mistake most people make when soldering is failing to get the interior of the fitting and the exterior of the pipe clean and shiny. Polish these surfaces with a fine emery clot until bright. When soldering, never heat the pipe, but instead heat the fitting. Doing so allows the solder to be drawn into the fitting by capillary action.
To avoid clogs, pay attention to what you flush. Sanitary napkins, thick toilet paper and baby wipes should never be flushed. These items can expand and cause a clog, or get caught on a pipe. Instead, dispose of them in a sanitary way that does not involve flushing them down the toilet.
Do not pour grease or oil down any of your household drains. Put them in containers and place in the fridge until they are solid, then throw them away. If you pour them down the drain, they can solidify in cold pipes. These solid masses will clog your pipes and are very difficult to remove.
Have you tried patching your pipe with the store-bought patching kits only to have that section of your plumbing continue leaking? Replacing the damaged pipe is a more permanent solution than patching. First, you must shut off the main water valve, and drain the water from the damaged section. Cut out the damaged section of the copper pipe, leaving about an inch of extra pipe on both sides of the damaged area. Remove corrosion from inside the pipes with a wire brush. Apply flux to the replacement pipe and the remaining pipe. Slide the piece of replacement pipe into place with couplings. Apply solder all around the joint, and use a propane torch to solder the replacement section into place.
Running cold water while using your garbage disposal is recommended even though some people insist that you don't have to. A common misconception is that if you flow water into the disposal while you're putting solid items down there, the process will be smoother, but that just isn't true. Running water can help clear debris and keep the disposal's temperature down, but it can also cause sticky materials to clog the disposal.
Clean out plugs can be extremely tricky to remove; they tend to stick easily. Here are two ways you can use to deal with a stubborn plug. First, you should try a hammer and chisel to loosen the clean out plug. The other option is chiseling through to clean out the plug.
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.
Even if you only have one choice, research your plumber before he arrives. Your insurance company may schedule a plumber for you, but you can still prepare for them by looking at their website and checking out customer reviews and feedback.
Always check your toilet and make certain it isn't leaking. An excellent method of checking this is by dropping a few food coloring drops in the tank of the toilet. If the water in the bowl turns colors, it is leaking.
To make sure there is no accident or sudden rush of water when you tackle a plumbing project, make sure you are ready for a cleanup. If you go into the work with a huge stack of towels and blankets ready to absorb water, the prospect of needing to actually do it will keep you alert enough to avoid triggering the accident in the first place.
Government agencies can provide information about plumbing contractors. By doing this you can see if they have any problems with their license and heck on reviews about the quality of their work. If their credentials are not in order, then you probably don't want to open the door to them.
Teach your children how to notice plumbing problems. Many parents handle plumbing issues without sharing that information with their children, who grow up not knowing anything about plumbing. Any time you make a small repair or notice a problem, call your kids in and explain what the problem is and what you are going to do. Educate them so they can make good decisions in the future.
The key to finding a great plumber for new construction is to look at their prior jobs. Good plumbers take pride in the work they do, so they will have photos and references from previous jobs. If the plumber you are considering hiring does not have references or photos of previous jobs, then stay away and find another.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you want to consider getting a spring-loaded timer which can be attached directly to your hose. This prevents your lawn from getting too much water in case you forget to turn your system off. Getting too much water could kill your grass and plants.
To keep the pipes in your kitchen in tip-top shape, avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain. These liquid fats solidify in the pipes and create clogs. As an added protection, wipe congealed grease from pots to further avoid creating clogged drains. By following these tips, you can help avoid a plumbing disaster.
You can use a plumber's snake on your washing machine drain if it needs it, as well as on sink drains. On occasion, you will find that small items and lint from your washing machine could be built up in the washing machine pipe, which could cause clogging or back up.
It doesn't have to be as hard as you may think. Like many other subjects, the plumbing world has a vast amount of information available. All you need is a little boost to get you started. The tips you have found above should put you on the right path.
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