Authored by-Petersson Phelps

Many of us have no idea how plumbing works. Knowing a few simple tips and tricks can help you keep your money in your hands and not that of a plumber. Sometimes, it is necessary to call up a plumber, but by following a few words of advice, you can take preemptive action and stop a problem before it starts.

Check the filters in your furnace, regularly. If these filters have not been cleaned or replaced recently, they may become clogged. This will affect how well your furnace is able to work, meaning that you may not have enough heat during the winter. Take this simple step, as soon as the weather starts to become cold.

To help you repair a leaky water line, you should hire a plumber. A leaky water line can be a problem because it could lead to a flood. The best way to fix this problem is to hire a licensed plumber who is trained to repair the leak.

When changing your shower head, replace it with one of good quality. It's common to think it's fine to buy the one that is the cheapest. The disadvantage to doing so is that these models are not highly durable and easily break.




If you are using PEX tubing for the supply lines in your home, make sure you get the right tools for the job. PEX tubing requires a completely different tool type than regular lines. PEX has a lot of benefits though, so don't let the different requirements throw you off.

Treating your drains every month is a great way to avoid future clogs and other problems, and it's a very simple procedure. Just run one to two gallons of hot tap water down each drain in your house.

If your toilet gets clogged, there is a low level of water in toilet, and the plunger is not working, you may fix the problem by dumping warm water from a bucket into your toilet from about waist level. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.

Before the cold weather hits, check any outside faucets for leaks or drips. If your faucets are dripping, you must fix them before the first freeze. Both plastic and metal pipes are susceptible to bursting when they freeze. Even a small crack will let enough water out to cause some serious damage.

Make sure to clean your dryer's lint trap. This not only prevents fires, but saves money. Inspect your lint trap every so often for tears or holes that could cause lint to go into your pipes, this could cause clogs or other problems you will have to deal with.

Don't shrug off that trickle coming from your toilet as a small problem. Even the tiniest leak can be quite expensive in the long run as you end up wasting potentially hundreds of gallons of water. See if you can find the root of the leak, or seek out professional advice, and keep your toilet running efficiently.

Make it a habit to run your rarely used valves on a regular basis to avoid plumbing problems. Keep them maintained and functioning properly by applying penetrating oil. It's also a good idea to occasionally turn the valves. This will prevent them from getting stuck together.

The key to finding a great plumber for new construction is to look at their prior jobs. Good plumbers take pride in the work they do, so they will have photos and references from previous jobs. If the plumber you are considering hiring does not have references or photos of previous jobs, then stay away and find another.

Keep your dryer's lint trap clean. This can prevent a lot of problems, including a fire. Be sure to inspect the lint screen for any tears or holes. That could result in lint traveling down your pipes, and that may result in clogs and other issues that have to be dealt with.

Plumbing problems can be a nightmare because of the destruction that plumbing leaks can cause. This is easily avoided if you only know one thing. The secret to sparing your home damage from it's own water, is being aware of just where you can find the water register, and have the knowledge required to cut it off with haste.

Before hiring a contractor for plumbing or other jobs, make sure you look into their records through the Department of Consumer Affairs. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. Do not hire a plumber with a license that is not in good standing.

Sometimes in the case of minor and or major emergencies we all have to become Mr. Fix it ourselves. If you've got blockage in your drains the first step is to try a commercial de-clogger like Drano. Simply pour it down the drain, wait ten minutes, and presto, your drain should be clear.

To keep your drains moving freely and free from gunk and buildup, pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar down each drain once a month. The foaming action helps to push stuck substances through the pipe, while the vinegar neutralizes odors. You can follow this solution with a kettle of boiling water for extra cleaning power.

Avoid putting celery, corn husks, or other stringy foods into your disposal. Even though they seem easily disposable, filling the disposal with enough fibrous material can not only clog the disposal but also eventually lead to the mechanism losing it's ability to grind up your sink waste because of snags and tangles.

As you have seen, doing your plumbing is not as scary as it may appear at first. Just think of all of the benefits it has and all of the expenses it can take care of, along with all of the money it can save you in the long run.