Home Plumbing Tips That Will Help Save You Money
Every homeowner experiences the occasional leaky faucet, clogged toilet, or backed-up sink drain. And while you might be inclined to call a licensed plumber to get the problem resolved, that isn’t always necessary. By familiarizing yourself with these basic plumbing tips, you can easily save some money – all it takes are a few tools and a little DIY know-how.
Note location of shut-off valves. Shutting off your home’s main water supply in a pinch can mean the difference between a minor water spill – from a burst pipe or leaking water heater, for example – and an indoor “swimming pool.” Large water spills are messy and costly to clean up, and then there’s the potential for structural damage plus damaged or ruined personal belongings.
Don’t ignore minor leaks. It’s not uncommon for kitchen or bathroom faucets to start leaking after a few years. It usually begins with a drop every few seconds and gradually worsens over time. While it may not seem like a major problem, leaky faucets will seriously affect your water bill over the long run, not to mention wasting huge quantities of clean water. There’s also the possibility of a minor leak turning into a major one at a very bad time — when no one is home, for instance.
Locate pipes before drilling. Planning to drill holes into floors, ceilings, or walls? Make sure there are no plumbing pipes in the way – otherwise, you’re likely to puncture one or more of them.
Flush what’s truly flushable. Never use your toilet as a waste basket, and don’t flush so-called “flushable wipes”, either – no matter what the packaging promises, sooner or later they cling to pipes, then each other, and then you have a substantial drain clearing project to undertake. One that will likely require professional assistance.
Take care with the drain. Don’t pour FOG (fat, oil, grease) down a sink drain or garbage disposal as these ingredients will coat the inside of your pipes and cause a tough-to-remove clog.
Bring up the reserves. When trying to dislodge a toilet or sink clog caused by a child’s toy or other small, hard object, use a wet-dry vac vs. a plunger to suck the item out instead of pushing it deeper into the drain.
Don’t over-tighten fittings and connections. This can lead to stripped screws and broken bolts. As they say: “hand tight is just right.”
Keep plumber’s tape on hand. No, we don’t mean to stop a leak in progress. Instead, use plumber’s tape to prevent leaks around joints and fittings by wrapping it around the pipe thread three times before sealing.
A little knowledge and skill can do wonders to keep your plumbing running problem-free. Still, there will be times when it will take an experienced plumbing company to get the job done. If that time is now, contact Best Choice Plumbers for fast and effective service.