Water, while a life source, can mean major plumbing problems for homeowners. There is not much else short of catastrophe that is going to cause as much damage to a home as plumbing issues. Thankfully, owners of homes can take steps to avoid plumbing nightmares.
Pump your septic tank about once every five years, to make sure it is working well. Deposit and debris build up in your tank can result in major problems. Getting your septic tank drained occasionally may be expensive, but it's dirt cheap compared to the cost of repairing a damaged septic system or the cleanup cost when raw sewage backs up into your home.
Only pay pay the plumber once the job is done. Some plumbers may require a deposit, but don't fork over all the dough until the job is completed to spec. Agree with the plumber in advance on the job and payment.
You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Doing so avoids sediment build up, so that you don't have any kind of septic system backup. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. Thoroughly clean the strainer on a regular basis. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.
Putting a cup of any kind of baking soda followed with a cup of white vinegar each month will keep your drain running smoothly. This will cause the vigorous bubbling you may remember from the "volcano" in a grade school science project, so be sure to close the drain with a stopper. Let it sit a few minutes, then wash it all away with boiling water. This simple solution can break up clogs caused by everything from hair to soap scum.
Try to avoid putting things like fat, oils and grease down the sink drain. These substances will clog the drain as they cool and harden. Even with a garbage disposal, you are going to cause it to be less efficient and risk drain backups. If you have any kind of inquiries concerning where and ways to make use of gas fireplaces Australia ( www.gaslogfiresmelbourne.com - http://www.gaslogfiresmelbourne.com/natural-gas-heaters/ ), you can contact us at our web-page. Make certain you dispose of all oils in other places other than the sink.
If you have multiple plumbing problems, schedule all of them to be fixed together. Rather than calling a plumber every time there is a minor problem, taking care of everything at once allows you to save money for additional repairs down the road. It also saves you money because a lot of plumbers charge by the hour--they cannot charge for multiple hours every trip if they only make one trip out.
Check your toilet regularly for leaks. Try putting drops of food coloring into the tank. If you then see colored water in the toilet bowl shortly after, you know a problem exists that needs tended to.
Remember that your toilet is not intended to be used to dispose of trash. You should never flush cotton balls, sanitary pads, tissues, paper towels, diapers, or certain other materials, because these things don't dissolve and could clog up your toilet. You will also want to use the least amount of toilet paper as required.
Choose enzyme based cleaners if your pipes get clogged. These cleaners turn the sludge into a liquid using natural bacteria, and then the liquid flows out of the pipes. The best these days are the enzyme cleaners.
Clean the aerator to fix low pressure problems in case you have sediment buildups. Take apart the faucet, and clean the aerator with vinegar and a small brush. Then simply rinse and reattach the aerator. This should help increase the water pressure, because any obstacles in the aerator will have been removed.
Now you know that there are plenty of things you can do to increase your plumbing skills. By using the tips at home, you will not only be able to fix any plumbing emergencies, but you will also be able to reduce your costs because you won't need to hire a professional plumber.