Some plumbing issues can be avoided or quickly fixed if you know what to do. Here are 11 plumbing tips that every home owner should know.
10% of homes have leaks that waste more than 90 gallons of water a day.
Most homeowners admit that they don’t know very much about fixing common household plumbing issues. Minor leaks and clogs can be easy to fix if you know what you are doing. You may not have to call a plumber out in every instance.
Read on to learn how to fix simple plumbing problems yourself, saving you money and water in the long-term.
1. Understand What You Can Flush
Not everything can or should be flushed down the drain. Fats and oils, for example, should be avoided as they will cool in the pipes and form blockages. Flushable wipes are not as flushable as the label may suggest, and can also cause significant problems with your pipes.
If in doubt, throw it out! Don’t flush it.
2. Learn The Location Of The Shut-off Valve
In an emergency, you need to know how to shut off the water to your property. A sudden puncture leak or a burst tap can very quickly cause significant damage to your property.
Learn where you need to go to shut off the water quickly. Shut-off valves are often under sinks or in the basement. Discover how your plumbing systems work and find that valve.
3. Know Your Plunger Types
Did you know there are different types of plungers? Look carefully next time you buy one, and you will see that there are three main styles of plunger; one for sinks and two for toilets.
The standard plunger shape, with a flat bottom, is for fixing clogs in blocked sinks. The flange plunger has a smaller hole at the bottom designed for fitting into pipes and should be used in a toilet. The accordion plunger is an enhanced flange plunger and is used for major blockages.
4. Clean Your Gutters
Not cleaning your gutters regularly is a cardinal plumbing sin that will result in leaks. Blocked gutters cause backups in the flow of water which will overflow into your roof and ceilings.
These leaks cause significant mold problems, which can be extremely bad for your respiratory health. The leaks will eventually damage your ceiling so severely, it will need to be replaced.
Be sure to clean your gutters regularly to avoid any problems.
5. Protect Your Pipes
Water pipes will burst during the winter if they get too cold. Freezing pipes can be a real hazard in properties that are not used during the winter, like summer rentals. It is essential to check your pipes regularly and add lagging to any pipes that may be a risk of freezing.
The water that sits in the pipes will expand and freeze in cold weather and then burst the pipe. When it thaws, then the leak will flow freely throughout the property, causing immense damage.
Check your pipes regularly and add pipe covers to any that may be at risk of freezing over.
6. Learn How To Clear a Clog
Clogs will occur from time to time in sinks, drains, and toilets. It is one of the most common plumbing problems. You can remove many quite easily with the correct tools and know-how.
At first, try a drain cleaning liquid that you can buy at the store. These can shift most simple blockages when left to work for a couple of hours. If they don’t, then it is time to roll up your sleeves and grab a plunger.
Plungers will create a vacuum in the pipe that will slowly force the blockage back up the pipe, creating enough space for the water to flow past and eventually carry the clog with it.
Be careful not to plunge too forcefully, as this could potentially damage the pipes.
7. Use Plumber’s Tape
If you have a dripping faucet or find that some of your pipe fittings drip a little bit under the sink, you can usually fix them with some plumbers tape. This magic tape is waterproof and sticky and will clamp onto the pipe fitting, sealing the leak.
Usually, this is a temporary fix, and if water continues to appear, you should seek advice from a professional plumber.
8. Never Ignore A Leak
Leaks are the first sign that something has gone wrong somewhere in your plumbing system. You should never ignore them as they could be an indicator of a bigger problem.
You may be able to stop some leaks with tools and tape temporarily, but if a leak is persistent, you need to call in a plumber to check the system. There could be a far worse problem lurking in the walls that you are unable to see.
9. Check The Pressure Valve
If your hot water suddenly disappears from your property, then there could be a problem with the hot water heater. Often, this is due to a loss of pressure, so find your heater and check the pressure valve.
A loss of pressure could indicate a leak somewhere in the system. If you know how to flush your heater, then do so. If this does not fix the problem, it is time to call a plumber.
10. Avoid Over Tightening
Pipe fittings loosen over time and will sometimes need to be tightened. A common mistake that inexperienced plumbers make is to overtighten the joints. This will cause damage to the joint and actually weaken it over time.
You want the joints to fit tightly but do not tighten it beyond a good fit..
11. Shop Vacuum To The Rescue!
In a pinch, if you have access to a wet/dry shop vac, you can use it to clear a clog in a pipe.
When something has fallen into the drain like a toy or ball, you can use a shop vac to pull it clear.
A plunger will push the item deeper into the pipe, making it more challenging to extract. Use the shop vac instead.
Use These Helpful Plumbing Tips
However, there is no replacement for real expertise, so when calamity strikes, it is time to call a professional plumber.
If you need plumbing services for residential, commercial, or industrial properties, please get in touch with us at (402) 731-2727 to see how we can help you.