Things You Can Do Around The Home To Maintain Your Plumbing

Every once in a while, we have questions about plumbing. Be it a do-it-yourself repair or just general preventative maintenance, we need plumbing advice. This article will provide you with both so you can be prepared for any plumbing emergency that may arise.

Only pay pay the plumber once the job is done. Although you might be required to pay a down payment before the job is initiated, never pay the bill in full until you are certain that the job is completed to your satisfaction. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.

If your toilet happens to be clogged, and the plunger is not working, you can pour a bucket of hot water down the toilet, but be sure to pour it from a height that is waist level or above so you do not flood the bathroom. The water should go down, and you can pour another bucket of water if the toilet is still clogged.

Never try to fix a garbage disposal by putting your hand down into it. Even when they are turned off, disposals can be very dangerous. It’s advised to obtain a diagram, possibly off of the Internet, that depicts your machine in accurate detail.

Don’t put fat, grease and other oils into the drain. Oils will eventually harden and clog up your drain. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. To keep your kitchen pipes clear, never dispose of grease down your sink drain.

A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Plug the drain afterwards or cover it with a washcloth, as the two chemicals are going to react with each other. Allow some time to pass, then follow up by pouring down boiling hot water. Doing this will clear your pipes of any soap scum or hair that has accumulated.

Plumbing can seem so intimidating from the outside, but once you know a little, it isn’t all that hard. There are many basics that you should know first. Deciding where to start is easy once you complete your research and use a bit of common sense to figure out what the most effective method to complete your project is.