Plumbing Tips That Will Save Your Family Some Money

 

 

Home plumbing is a modern convenience! Indoor plumbing means you do not have to live by a creek or use an outhouse. However, keeping this luxury functioning - where and how you want - without drowning everyone in your home can be an interesting challenge! Read on for some advice on controlling the flow of water in your 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.

 

The next time you have a clogged drain, avoid the simple solution of dumping drain-clearing chemicals into the pipes. While this method involves the least amount of effort, the chemicals in these liquid cleaners are destructive to your piping. Instead, consider using a little bit of elbow grease with a plunger, snake, or other device designed to clear your clog without chemicals.

 

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.

 

Trash should go in the trash basket, not the toilet. Use the toilet for what it is designed for, and it won't give you a lot of problems. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. Even toilet tissue should be used conservatively. Use enough to clean yourself, of course, but if you need to use wads of tissue you should flush several times in the process instead of waiting till the end.

 

Make sure a new shower head is of high quality. Many times, people think it is okay to buy the cheapest shower head that they can find. Cheap shower heads have a tendency to break easily, so make sure you get what you pay for.

 

Do not be surprised if a plumber charges you more than you expected. Many customers think that fixing a toilet or other drainage problem should be easy, therefore the price should be low. You must remember that not only does a plumber have to charge for labor, but they have to charge for parts that you need.

 

Cover pipes that are outside or in cool areas. Use heat tape to make sure that the pipes are completely covered and insulated. This will prevent frozen pipes in the winter, which can be an expensive problem. Check outdoor pipes for other problems such as leaks and cracks which are better to catch early.

 

Try to limit the amount of hair that goes down your drains. Hair can become tangled up in the pipe and end up blocking up the them, preventing water from flowing smoothly. Buy a cheap screened drain cover to put over your drain to stop any hair from going down and clean it off regularly.

 

When getting an estimate from a contractor on a job, make sure to ask how long the written estimate is good for. For big jobs you usually want to get estimates from a few different plumbers. Knowing how long your estimate is valid will help you know what your time limit is for making a decision on who to hire.

 

Heat up frozen pipes carefully if they have frozen. In colder regions, pipes placed closest to outer walls and ceilings could freeze if not properly insulated. Use hot rags, hot water, a blow dryer or similar heat source. Start heating at a place nearest the tap, then work backwards.

 

Verify the location of your main water valve, and cut-off, for your property The water meter should be located in its vicinity. Many fixtures, such as sinks or toilets, will have their own valves to shut off the water to them. Show each family member the location of the valves, and mark them so people can turn them off in an emergency.

 

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.

 

With a little bit of plumbing, you can route water anywhere you want in your home. Doing so, makes it possible to live anywhere and adds convenience to any room - but done wrong can mean a financial disaster! Keep the wisdom of this article in mind and you can keep the water flowing where you want but in ways you can handle.