How To Avoid Plumbing Problems

Here is some useful information about how to avoid plumbing problems. The sooner you address a problem the better. If you wait too long something that might be minor could turn into a major catastrophe that could cost a lot of money. So the first the thing to do is to learn to recognize the symptoms and fixing them right away.

Learning how to prevent issues such as leaks, bursting pipes, and clogged drains is not difficult. Both older and newer buildings need to be monitored all year long for the indications of potential issues. Older houses are probably more prone to serious potential emergencies. However, new houses can have their share of issues as well. Whatever the age of your home, it is a worthwhile investment to educate yourself on how to deal with common situations that homeowners face.

A leaking toilet is a common occurrence. The parts inside the toilet wear out causing leaks. A leaking toilet can waste an awfully lot of water, enough to fill up a swimming pool if it is not fixed quickly. Usually you only have to replace the flush valve. This is a simple job that most people can do themselves. A new flush valve only costs a few dollars.

Bathroom drains often get clogged with hair and soap scum. You can use an ordinary plunger to unclog the drain but the drain will probably get clogged up again pretty quickly. There are commercial products that will unclog drains. If you have a serious clogged drain the heavy duty products will work better but they are more expensive. An old plumber’s trick is to use a wet dry vacuum to simply suck the mess from the drain.

Kitchen drains get clogged with grease. Of course, you should have strainers to catch food particles before they can clog kitchen drains. Once a week or so you should pour boiling water down the kitchen sink to dissolve the grease buildup. This is a good preventative measure.

The connections to your washing machine are a vulnerable area. The rubber hose can become brittle. If they start leaking you can have a flood in your basement. You should check washing machine hoses regularly. Better yet replace the rubber hoses with steel hoses. It is not a bad idea to have a separate shutoff valve for your washing machine.

Your home has a main water valve that controls the flow of water into your house. It is very important to know where this valve is. If there is an emergency you may need to shut this value off to prevent a lot of damage. Make sure everyone in your household knows where the main valve is and how to turn it on and off.

Learning how to avoid plumbing problems can save you a lot of money and a lot of headache. Hopefully, these preventive measures will avoid most situations. A little prevention can go a long way. Just in case, have a good relationship with a licensed professional for those times that are too serious for you to handle all by yourself.