If you have never owned a house before, it is crucial to know that plumbing problems may happen quite soon after buying a new home. A lot of the time, problems start in the kitchen or bathroom. Unfortunately, you should expect that plumbing issues can arise at any given time. Here are some helpful plumbing tips in case you find yourself in that situation, or any other situation where you will need to do some plumbing work.
Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished the job. You might have to give them a deposit, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. This ensures that the plumber will not abandon the job midway, and will also care about the quality of their work more.
Pass on seemingly convenient cleaning products like bleach tablets and blue toilet tabs. These things may help improve smells, but they can damage the rubber components of a toiler, which can cause it to function improperly or even worse, completely break down.
If you have a clogged toiled with a lower water lever, and the plunger isn’t working, try pouring in some warm water directly into the toilet. Repeat this as many times as necessary until your clog is gone, and you can flush normally once again.
Inspect around the toilets for softness in the floors to see if any damage has occurred. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. When you have a problem like this to deal with, the earlier you detect it, the less expensive it will be to take care of.
If you notice orange or pink stains in your bathroom fixtures, this is because of the iron in your water. This is fixed by using water softener, which can be bought at a store, or you can have someone come to your home and fix it.
Have all the plumbing repairs done in one visit. It can be tempting to call a plumber each time you have a minor problem, but saving plumbing work for one time allows you to put money aside for the repairs. Because most plumbers charge labor by the hour on top of a flat call rate, you can significantly reduce your bill by reducing the trips they make to your home.
Check the overflow holes for clogs. Overflow holes catch the excess water from an overflowing sink. They may not sound like a matter of great importance until you actually need them. Clear the overflow holes periodically when you are doing your periodic checks for other problems and things that need to be repaired.
The worst thing to have happen is a plumbing problem if you are unprepared to deal with it. All homeowners should know the basics of plumbing. If you ever experience plumbing problems, the above advice can help you to solve them calmly and with confidence.