Plumbing can be an exciting endeavor. No really, it can be. In terms of taking better care, doing yo...

1. Fix Your Plumbing Issues With These Fantastic Tips
Plumbing can be an exciting endeavor. No really, it can be. In terms of taking better care, doing
your own plumbing repairs to save money http://home.howstuffworks.com/water-heater.htm is
actually quite exciting. To start learning some basics as to how to make this work for you, please be
sure to refer to the tips below.
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.
Always keep your garbage disposal clean. You can do this in many ways. Pour some dish soap in and
let the disposal run for a few minutes with some cold water. Be sure to run it regularly, if not, it can
cause rust. To eliminate foul odors, grind lemon or other citrus peels. You can clean the walls of the
disposal by water heater replacement installation cost grinding small fruit pits or egg shells.
Ensure that a septic tank is emptied approximately five yearly, and make sure it is properly
maintained. This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to
be a backup in your home. White it is somewhat expensive to pump the septic tank, it will be much
more expensive should you need to clean backup, repair your septic tank or replace it altogether.
If your pipes freeze, turn on the water from the faucet nearest them to let water out when they start
to thaw. This relieves the pressure contained in the pipe as it also prevents it from bursting, which
would reduce the damage done to your house.
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.
You should drain all of the water out of the tank of your hot water heater at least once every three to
six months. Draining all of the water out of the tank helps to prevent sediment build-up at the
bottom of the tank. This sediment can cause the tank to bang or to heat less efficiently.
Got a leaky pipe? In many cases you can repair this yourself without the expense of a plumber. If a
joint is leaking, tighten it with a pipe wrench. If the leak is coming from a damaged section of pipe,
you can try repairing with a store-bought patching kit. One method involves applying waterproof
tape to the section of pipe where there is leakage. Before applying the tape, make sure the pipe is
thoroughly dry. Make sure that the tape covers two to three inches on either side of the breakage in
the pipe.
Rarely used valves tend to fuse together. Keep them lubricated using penetrating oil. Be sure to turn
them periodically to avoid sticking.
Make sure to never leave any flammable liquids near your water heater. Certain liquids like
gasoline, solvents, or adhesives are flammable, and if left too close to the water heater, can ignite. If

2. you have to have these liquids in your basement, place it far away from your water heater.
To avoid sediment buildup, drain gallons of water from your water heater to flush any corrosion.
This will help your heater to run more efficiently therefore saving you regular energy costs. Make
sure to read your heater's instructions before attempting this, and do this periodically to make sure
that your heater is running as well as it can.
There are a variety of skills related to plumbing, not just ones that have to do with water. One of the
common and important things plumbers deal with is repairing water lines.
You should try using a plumbing snake or plumber to unclog a clog. Liquid cleaners that are meant
to unclog the clogs in a drain could ruin the pipes. You should also use strainers to catch hair so that
it doesn't go down the drain and get clumped and clog your drain.
Always know in your mind exactly where the valve is that will cut the water off on your property. The
water meter for your property should be close to it. Toilets, sinks and other fixtures should also have
cut-off valves. Make sure every member of the family knows where the values are located, and mark
them so they are easy to turn off in case the need arises.
To make sure your sump pump will run in an emergency, routinely test it by adding several buckets
of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on, remove the water and turn off with ease. Do
this regularly, especially if your sump pump doesn't run that often, to ensure it will work when
needed most.
The water heater in your home needs to have regular flushing to its plumbing in order to work
properly. There is usually a valve at the bottom of the water heater that a hose can be attached to.
Connect a hose to this valve and open it up all the way to flush scale and deposits out of the system.
A great plumbing tip which can save you a lot of money on a daily basis is to invest in a low GPF
(gallons per flush) model toilet. As such, every time you flush the toilet you will be using less water
than before, and doing so will save you on your water bill.

3. Make sure that you avoid throwing fats down the drain after you clean up your meal. Fats can
solidify over time which can cause a drainage problem and corrupt your water flow. Throw out fats
and different types of cooking oils in the garbage after you finish with your meal.
The best thing you can do if you smell a foul odor coming from your toilet is to call a plumber. There
is a good chance that you may have a sewer backup. Not only can this cause pipe damage, but
inhaling the smells from sewer backups is harmful to your help.
As you can see, maintaining and repairing your own plumbing isn't as difficult as it may appear at
first glance. It just requires doing research, getting documents in order and asking a lot of
questions. The work will pay off once you see how it can help save you money.