Plumbing problems can negatively affect your home and your belongings. There are some tips listed be...

1. Plumbing Tips You Can Try In your home
Plumbing problems can negatively affect your home and your belongings. There are some tips listed
below to help you start fixing your plumbing problems.
To prevent the pipes from freezing, it is advisable to seal off air vents, cracks and access doors. In
order to keep the heat in and the cold out, you can try using insulation or caulk. In the event a leak
occurs, make it a point to remind everyone where the master circuit breaker is so it can be shut off
immediately.
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.
Periodically check your pipes for leaks and cracks. These can be forgotten, since pipes are usually
hidden away, but checking for leaks and cracks can help you identify a small problem before a big
problem occurs. You may have to enlist the help of a family member to turn on and off the water
stream as you are checking.
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.
If you have noisy pipes, you can cushion them with a rubber blanket or add additional anchor straps.
Banging pipes are usually caused by loose pipes, water hammering to a stop as you turn it off, or hot
water pipes shifting in their position. All of these problems can be solved by cushioning and
anchoring the pipes.
If your water is coming out black, then most likely you have an iron and magnesium issue to your
water. You need to contact a water softener company, and get them to come out and assess your
water. They will be able to fix the problem water heater repair in by adding a water softener.
Make sure you get a good recommendation or check the references before you hire a plumber. With
good recommendations, it will assure that you are hiring an experienced plumber. If the experienced
plumber is professional, he will have a fully stocked truck and be able to complete most small jobs in
one visit.
Basic problems with toilets can be a quick fix for even the rawest amateur plumber and is worth
attempting if you can take the time to research the problem. Seek out the necessary part or parts
from your local hardware store and ask for support in how to properly install them.
Have a specific plumber in mind before you have an emergency. Most people don't think about
plumbers until they find themselves having a big problem that needs to be fixed right away. Instead,
choose a plumber who you are comfortable with and whose experience you trust--way before you
actually need his services.

2. Make sure that the temperature of your home's water heater is not above 120F. On older water
heaters, be sure it is not above medium settings. When temperatures get higher than 120, scalding
can occur. Also, having the settings above 120F, tends to use more energy than lower temperatures
do.
When chilly weather approaches, it is time to disconnect your water hoses from your outside faucets.
If you forget to do this, water in the hoses can freeze and expand. This can cause the faucets and the
connecting pipes inside your house to freeze and break. By simply rolling up your garden hoses and
storing them for the winter, you can help prevent costly plumbing repairs.
If you have grout deposits inside your pipes, it is almost impossible for an inexperienced homeowner
to fix. With a little effort, you can get some of the grout broken down and on its way down the line.
This works best if your pipes are plastic instead of metal. This is a tough problem, however, that very
often requires professional intervention.
Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not
throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet

3. that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!
If the pipes have burst in an upstairs area, use a tool to perforate the ceiling underneath in several
places and places pots and pans under to catch the water. If this is not done, the weight of the
accumulating water could cause a collapse of the entire ceiling.
If you have a water pressure or fill problem throughout the whole house, do not panic. It could be
the simplest of solutions. Sometimes the city flushes their systems, breaking up debris and sending it
to homes. This requires cleaning drains effectively and strainers in order to resolve the problem.
If you absolutely need to contact a plumber, be careful with the professional that you pick. Like
mechanics, plumbers are experts in their particular field, and they may try to convince you to do a
job or service that is completely unnecessary given your problem. Try to find one who has gotten
good reviews, especially when it comes to honesty.
Repair a leaky faucet as quickly as possible. Most leaky faucets are caused by a worn or damaged
seal, which can easily be replaced, but you need to attend to it quickly. A slow leak can
http://www.lowes.com/Plumbing/Water-Heaters/_/N-1z11qhp/pl waste up to 20 gallons of water per
day, costing a lot of money in the long run. If the faucet is really old, sometimes it's worth replacing
the entire fixture.
Check the plumbing in your home. If your home has the flexible gray polybutylene water pipes, you
need to have a plumber come out and assess their condition. These types of pipe are prone to failure
and can lead to very costly repairs if they have a failure within your home.
Now you should be much more prepared when it comes to plumbing. If you thought that you were
ready before, well you should now be an expert! The tips that were given should have provided you
some advice that can help you get started with maintaining and fixing your own plumbing.