Clear Those Pipes With These Plumbing Tips

Often, the plumbing in a house starts malfunctioning soon after you move in. You'll find them in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement, but hopefully not in the walls! Plumbing issues are something that every homeowner must anticipate. Here are some ways to help when that happens.


Use the sounds you hear from your pipes to help you to determine what they problem is. Certain sounds mean the water pressure is too high. Other sounds can signify loose pipes or slight clogs from calcium or iron build up. Listening to your pipes can save you a lot of money hunting down the problem.


Before starting any plumbing project on your own be sure to do a great deal of research. There are many resources available to assist you in understanding your plumbing system and help you to avoid many common mistakes made by do-it-yourself novices. Reading about other people's mistakes can make the difference of saving or losing money.


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.


If your sink is letting rusty water out and it will not drain, it is mostly likely because of the biological scum and grease that is built up in the pipes. You need to have your drains professionally cleaned, allowing maximum flow through your drains. Your drains must be open completely.


Frozen and bursting pipes from harsh winter weather is a problem that no-one wants, so plan now to winterize your exterior faucets and pipes against freezing conditions. A simple way to accomplish this is to find the exterior water shut-off valve located inside your home (often located in the basement). Turn off the water valve to stop water flow, and then open up the outside faucets to drain out any water that has collected. Be sure to turn off the outside water faucets tightly after the water has drained out. Take in any hoses you may have outside so they don't crack from the cold weather.


When running your garbage disposal, always use a lot of cold water. Using cold water not only preserves the sharpness of the blades, but also makes the disposal process itself smoother. If you use hot water, any grease that is in the disposal will turn to liquid, and sit inside of the drain, which can clog your pipes.


If you have plumbing problems caused by grout in the water lines, it is best not to attempt to fix it yourself. You could try to break up all the grout to send it down further. This is more successful in plastic plumbing as compared to metal pipes. However, you may never be fully rid of the grout without the assistance of a professional.


If you have a lot of hair in your shower drain, be sure to get a stopper and put it ‌plumber in dallas the drain. This will catch the hair from going down the drain, which can clog it. Just make sure that you remove hair that is already in the drain before using the stopper.


Hopefully, now that you've read the above tips, the fine art of plumbing is a little less scary to you. Remember what you've learned here, so that you can put in practice when you need to. Also, remember that when all else fails, a plumber is just a speed dial number away.