Sunday, August 17, 2014

Plumbing 101: Tips And Tricks For Your Pipes

By Steve Manlapas


Now is the right time to learn about plumbing. You've thought about it often, but setting aside time to do it has just never happened. If your plumbing system ever has issues, you'll be glad you read this article.

If a water pipe freezes, you should turn the on tap that is nearest to the pipe to ensure the water has a place to get out when the pipe thaws out. Letting the water drain out will relieve pressure in the frozen pipe, which will reduce the chances of it bursting and damaging your home.

Frozen pipes are on of the worst plumbing problems. Prevent the pipes from freezing by insulating any sections of pipe that are close to the outside walls, and never allowing the temperature inside to be below freezing. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. In the best case scenario, you will have to wait until they thaw so that the water runs again. However, frozen pipes commonly break or crack pipes, leading to flooding and costly repairs.

Knowing what tools are what and the proper way to use them will make you much better at plumbing. So be sure to read through all your manuals as well as research as much as you can on the internet where you can gain information to help you with your projects. When planning on repairs, plan on having a plan.

Knowing which tools to use and how to operate them is essential to any aspiring plumber. Read every manual, and use the Internet and library to research the projects that you plan on doing. You need to conduct research before attempting a repair, because it could be expensive to correct an error.

Do special checks on your sink overflow holes to ensure they are not becoming clogged. Overflow holes are used in case the sink starts to overfill, which may not seem like a big problem--until it is. When you do periodic checks for any other problems or repairs that are needed, take the time to clear the holes that are there to protect you from overflow.

When replacing your shower head, pay attention to the quality of the replacement head. People will buy the cheapest option thinking it will do the job they need it to do. Cheap shower heads can break much more easily.

The best way to avoid plumbing bills is to prevent problems before they happen. One of the most common repairs involves fixing drain clogs. Hair can clog drains. Use a drain cover to keep hair and other elements from going down your pipes. It is much easier to remove the hair from a screen than it is to get it out of a pipe.

If the hose that leads to your kitchen sink has not been maintained or installed properly, you may notice that water is constantly draining to the dishwasher. The hose at the kitchen sink going to the dishwasher should follow a specific uphill, then downhill pattern. This prevents unwanted mixing of water between the sink and dishwasher.

Don't throw trash down your toilet. Doing so can clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. A lot of commonly-flushed items such as tissues, cotton balls and swabs, paper towels, diapers, and sanitary napkins can clog up a toilet by failing to dissolve properly. In addition, you should only use the amount of toilet paper that is absolutely necessary when cleaning yourself.

Education and prevention are often the keys when it comes to avoiding plumbing-related problems. If you own a home and know the basics when it comes to plumbing, you are more likely to make necessary repairs when the need arises. Furthermore, taking the initiative to thoroughly research and study the problem in advance of making repairs will save time and money.




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