Plumbing Tips
If you have a problem with the plumbing in your home, you may be tempted to pick up the phone and call a plumber immediately. However, before you take this step, you should know that many basic plumbing problems can be solved without professional help. So, to help you save a little money and provide you with some basic plumbing guidelines, please check out our tips below:
Toilet overflow
This is perhaps one of the most basic plumbing problems you'll encounter. If you think that your toilet is on the verge of overflowing, take off the tank lid quickly, and reach inside and push the valve for flush in a closed position. This covers the small opening at the lower part of the tank. This will allow you to stop the toilet from overflowing while you get the obstruction cleared.
No Water is running in your home
If you find that the water in your house is not running, you will want to check all the dials available on your meter to determine if they're all stable. If the dials are moved in anyway, this could trigger a leaking of water, which will most likely occur in the toilet. If you don't get this under control, when you do have to call the plumber, the cost could be substantial.
Become familiar with the stop valves
The stop valves are cut off valves that you can find near virtually any toilet or faucet. It is important for you to become familar with where they are located, so if a problem should occur, you can turn the water with these rather than the main. Turning off the water with the main can cause water damage to your house, and this means you will have to pay more once you call the plumber to fix it.
Make sure you close and open all your valves at least once annually
This is an important tip that many homeowners overlook. When you do this at least once annually, you prevent the valves from becoming tight over time. If you go too long without opening and closing them, they may become so tight that when you do need to open them, you will need to call for professional help, and this will cost you.
Extend the life of your water heaters
You can increase the life of your water heaters and save money at the same time by draining a gallon of water from the heater at least once a year through the drain valve which sits at the lower part of the heater. Over time, sediment gathers in the water heater, and this can reduce the heater's shelf life. By draining it at at least once annual, you can extend this shelf life.
Stopped up Drains
After toilet clogging, stopped up drains is arguably the second most common plumbing problem you'll encounter. Contrary to popular belief drain cleaners are the "last" thing you should use, once you don't have any other choice. Many of these drain cleaners don't work as well as advertised. Before you use a drain cleaner, always start of by using a plunger to see if you can fix it with that. If you do have to call a plumber, and you've tried using the drain cleaner, make sure the plumber is aware of this.