Though water is one of the earth’s vital elements, it can cause major trouble for anyone battling plumbing issues in their home. One little mistake can lead to major water damage inside your home, which can end up costing you a small fortune to fix. Luckily, there are many things people can do to stave off plumbing disasters and make sure the damage is minimal when unexpected events do happen.
Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don’t have any kind of septic system backup. Although having a septic tank pumped costs money, cleaning up sewage backup in your home will ultimately cost much more.
If you know what tools you should use, it can help you deal with your plumbing problems in the right way. Make sure to read all of your manuals, and use things such as the library and the internet to read up on do it yourself projects. Make sure you plan before you try any kind of repair, as it can be costly to fix a mistake.
If you aren’t having any luck using a plunger on a clogged toilet, you may want to try pouring warm water into it from waist high. Do this as often as necessary if the water level dips back down again.
Use a strainer over your sink drain to catch food and other bits of material. Otherwise, you will likely get a clogged drain. Clean your kitchen strainer often, particularly if you can see debris accumulating. You should also clean your bathtub strainer any time it is slow to drain.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. They can clog your drains once they cool down. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. You should dispose of all oils outside of the sink.
Orange or pink discoloration on your bathroom fixtures is a solid indication that your water contains too much iron. 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.
Being knowledgeable and prepared are the best ways to avoid plumbing issues. The homeowners who educate themselves about plumbing are more prone to make better decisions regarding plumbing issues. A homeowner that researches plumbing and knows what they’re doing before a problem happens will be better off if there is a problem.