SPOILER ALERT!
Advice On Doing Your Own Plumbing
Content by-Strickland Lee
Home plumbing is a modern convenience! Indoor plumbing means you do not have to live by a creek or use an outhouse. However, keeping this luxury functioning - where and how you want - without drowning everyone in your home can be an interesting challenge! Read on for some advice on controlling the flow of water in your home.
Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage turn the main water supply off as well as any shut off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
Do not be surprised if a plumber charges you more than you expected. Many customers think that fixing a toilet or other drainage problem should be easy, therefore the price should be low. You must remember that not only does a plumber have to charge for labor, but they have to charge for parts that you need.
You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. Overflow holes are used in case the sink starts to overfill, which may not seem like a big problem--until it is. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.
If you have issues with the plumbing making a hammering sound when you turn it off, check your water pressure. Any time your water pressure is above 80 PSI, you will hear extra water noise. This can be easily solved by the installation of a pressure-reducing valve, which can be done by most homeowners.
Never hire a plumber that is not licensed, insured and bonded. If the plumbing company cannot provide you with reference numbers for their credentials, move on quickly. It is a common question and it should be a no-brainer for them to provide them to you. If they have issues with you asking, take that as a big red flag.
Taking preemptive action to fix a strange smelling kitchen sink can be a good way to keep your kitchen smelling great. Make sure not to throw hair or grease into your sink. Use baking soda if you have a strange smell coming from your drain. Make sure you use your garbage disposal if you have one to grind up any food and use water while doing this to prevent damage to the blades of the garbage disposal.
When replacing your shower head, spend the money on a high-quality model. Some people think it's alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. Inexpensive shower heads are not terribly sturdy, though, and may not hold up to daily use.
Watch how your toilets are flushing. If you have to jiggle the handle or if it takes too long, you might have to repair some toilet parts. Replacing these parts early may help you to save on your water bills and will save you from more expensive repairs at a later date.
When you are working on any kind of plumbing project, you always need a backup person. visit the following web site is because, when working with water, you never know when an emergency can happen and that second pair of hands can come in very useful! This can even be an unskilled person who can follow directions.
Protect you plumbing pipes! If link web site live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also, make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never try to undertake a project that you are unsure of. Additionally, never call on a friend to help you with something, if they are not a professoinal. There have been hundreds of good friendships ruined by a guy claiming to know exactly what he is doing, when the truth is he is clueless.
Avoid over-tightening water faucet handles. Use only enough pressure to stop the water from flowing and dripping from the faucet. Anything else is overkill and will quickly wear out the gaskets and washers inside those handles and cause leaking or the inability to stop the water from coming out of the faucet.
Check with the Department of Consumer Affairs when shopping for a good plumbing contractor. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. If a plumber does not have a current license and even a limited number of complaints, you probably don't want them working on your home.
If you are the kind of person who likes to listen to music when you work, then you should be sure to avoid using headphones. A radio is a much smarter choice, as it will allow you to hear the music you want, without distracting you from hearing important sounds.
Protect you plumbing pipes! If you live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also, make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turn off the water at the main valve immediately if you notice water on the floor by your water heater. If you do not, you may find that a small leak could turn to a large leak, and will be more difficult to shut off.
As you can see, plumbing problems don't have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you've learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
Home plumbing is a modern convenience! Indoor plumbing means you do not have to live by a creek or use an outhouse. However, keeping this luxury functioning - where and how you want - without drowning everyone in your home can be an interesting challenge! Read on for some advice on controlling the flow of water in your home.
Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage turn the main water supply off as well as any shut off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
Do not be surprised if a plumber charges you more than you expected. Many customers think that fixing a toilet or other drainage problem should be easy, therefore the price should be low. You must remember that not only does a plumber have to charge for labor, but they have to charge for parts that you need.
You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. Overflow holes are used in case the sink starts to overfill, which may not seem like a big problem--until it is. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.
Every so often, inspect the floor around your toilet and see if it has gone soft. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.
If you have issues with the plumbing making a hammering sound when you turn it off, check your water pressure. Any time your water pressure is above 80 PSI, you will hear extra water noise. This can be easily solved by the installation of a pressure-reducing valve, which can be done by most homeowners.
Never hire a plumber that is not licensed, insured and bonded. If the plumbing company cannot provide you with reference numbers for their credentials, move on quickly. It is a common question and it should be a no-brainer for them to provide them to you. If they have issues with you asking, take that as a big red flag.
Taking preemptive action to fix a strange smelling kitchen sink can be a good way to keep your kitchen smelling great. Make sure not to throw hair or grease into your sink. Use baking soda if you have a strange smell coming from your drain. Make sure you use your garbage disposal if you have one to grind up any food and use water while doing this to prevent damage to the blades of the garbage disposal.
When replacing your shower head, spend the money on a high-quality model. Some people think it's alright to get the cheapest head for your shower in the store. Inexpensive shower heads are not terribly sturdy, though, and may not hold up to daily use.
Watch how your toilets are flushing. If you have to jiggle the handle or if it takes too long, you might have to repair some toilet parts. Replacing these parts early may help you to save on your water bills and will save you from more expensive repairs at a later date.
When you are working on any kind of plumbing project, you always need a backup person. visit the following web site is because, when working with water, you never know when an emergency can happen and that second pair of hands can come in very useful! This can even be an unskilled person who can follow directions.
Protect you plumbing pipes! If link web site live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also, make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Never try to undertake a project that you are unsure of. Additionally, never call on a friend to help you with something, if they are not a professoinal. There have been hundreds of good friendships ruined by a guy claiming to know exactly what he is doing, when the truth is he is clueless.
Avoid over-tightening water faucet handles. Use only enough pressure to stop the water from flowing and dripping from the faucet. Anything else is overkill and will quickly wear out the gaskets and washers inside those handles and cause leaking or the inability to stop the water from coming out of the faucet.
Check with the Department of Consumer Affairs when shopping for a good plumbing contractor. There you can check on their license to see if it is valid, and also if there is any consumer complaints against the contractor. If a plumber does not have a current license and even a limited number of complaints, you probably don't want them working on your home.
If you are the kind of person who likes to listen to music when you work, then you should be sure to avoid using headphones. A radio is a much smarter choice, as it will allow you to hear the music you want, without distracting you from hearing important sounds.
Protect you plumbing pipes! If you live in an area which has cold winters and are leaving your home for an extended amount of time, protect your plumbing while you are gone! Shut off the main water valve! Drain the system of water by opening the faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Also, make sure that you have left some heat on in the house! Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turn off the water at the main valve immediately if you notice water on the floor by your water heater. If you do not, you may find that a small leak could turn to a large leak, and will be more difficult to shut off.
As you can see, plumbing problems don't have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you've learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
