You May Be Able To Fix Your Own Pipes

TIP! It’s easy to fix noisy pipes which squeak or sound like hammering. Anchor exposed pipes to get rid of noises.

If you are a homeowner and you have water issues, it can be a very daunting task. A plumbing problem is one of the worst things that can happen to a home. Thankfully, it doesn’t take expert knowledge to repair a problem and keep your plumbing system well maintained so that future issues are prevented.

TIP! To prevent pipes in your house from freezing, do not let the temperature in the house dip below freezing. Also, any pipes exposed to the cold should be insulated.

Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. Straddle the toilet and rock from one foot to the other to see if you feel any weakening or “softness” in the floor beneath you. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.

TIP! Get the appropriate tools, and know exactly how to use them before you start working on your plumbing. Read the instructions, which many people overlook, and check out the internet which has many resources to help with plumbing issues.

Make sure there is a strainer covering all drains in order to collect particles that would cause a clog if they went down the drain. Your kitchen sink strainer must be cleaned whenever it catches anything. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.

TIP! If you live in a home using well water and your bathtubs have stains pink and orange in color, this is likely a result of iron levels in the well water. To get rid of this problem, you can either use a commercial product to soften the water, or have a contractor come to your home and do the work for you.

Avoid placing fat, grease, and other oils into your drain. Whenever they cool, they tend to harden and make clogs inside your drains. They’ll also muck up your garbage disposal and cause it to be less efficient. To keep your drain running efficiently, dispose of fats and oils in other ways besides pouring them down the drain.

Keep your garbage disposal clean and it will last longer. Prevent unsavory disposal odors through regular use of citrus peel, cherry pits and dish detergent.

TIP! Putting in shower heads that are energy-efficient can save you a lot of money in energy costs. The majority of hot water is consumed by showers.

As it is with anything, good preparation and education are keys to avoiding problems, and this holds true with plumbing as well. Knowing the basics of maintaining good plumbing can help a homeowner to make sound decisions. If a problem does arise, research and preparation ahead of time will make the problem easier to fix.