There might come a time when you have problems with your plumbing, whether it’s a clogged sink or a plugged toilet. Look at the suggestions and ideas in the post beneath that will show you easy ways to solve these issues and save a call to a plumber.
Check the plumbing inside your house.
If you’re thinking about buying a home or if you already own one, there are some things you can do to protect your investment.
The first step is to know what’s in your house. Is there lead paint on the walls? Are there asbestos shingles on the roof? These are two examples of substances that could be hazardous to your health and cause significant damage if they become damaged or begin to deteriorate.
In addition, there are many other things that you need to check before purchasing a home. For example, check the plumbing inside your house. If your home has flexible grey polybutylene water pipes, you need to have a plumber come out and assess their condition. These lines are prone to failure and can result in extremely costly repairs if they have a loss within your house.
Run dishwashers and washing machines at night.
Dishwashers and washing machines are two of the biggest water hogs in the home. Use the dishwasher at night or during off-hours to reduce water consumption. Run dishwashers when there’s less demand for water and electricity. For example, run your dishwasher at night, after everyone has gone to bed, or on weekends when there’s less need for water.
You can adjust your water pressure by using a pressure regulator to reduce it to a lower setting. This will save energy and money since less energy is required to pump less water. If you have a newer dishwasher that uses far less energy than older models, you can turn off your water supply while the dishwasher runs.
Don’t use drain cleaners on your plumbing.
Don’t use drain cleaners on your plumbing; they’re highly corrosive and may damage your pipes. If applied to the skin, anything that says it is dangerous may be harmful to whatever it touches. When you have a septic system, this is much more essential because it will kill the bacteria digesting your waste.
If you have a clogged drain, try pouring hot water down the drain first to loosen up any debris that might be stuck there. If that doesn’t work, try baking soda and vinegar in a pourable mixture (1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar). The baking soda helps break up grease, while the vinegar will help dissolve soap scum and other mineral deposits. This should clear up most clogs!
Flush regularly
It is important to note that while conserving water is necessary, it should not be done at the cost of your health and safety. While flushing toilets after every use may seem like a good idea, it can cause plumbing problems in the long run.
While it might assist in conserving a bit of water to not flush the toilet after every use or only under particular circumstances, regularly flushing toilets will help keep water moving in pipes and prevent freezing. Precisely, the same holds correct for letting water run in sinks. When you have rarely used bathrooms in your house, make it a point to flush the toilets and run the faucets regularly.
It is important to note that while conserving water is necessary, it should not be done at the cost of your health and safety. While flushing toilets after every use may seem like a good idea, it can cause plumbing problems in the long run.
Do not shrug off that trickle from your toilet as a small problem
There are many ways to save water in the home, but one of the most effective is to fix any leaks that may be occurring. A tiny leak can waste thousands of gallons annually, so even a small one should be addressed as soon as possible.
Toilets account for about 1/3 of all household water use, so they are a great place to start when looking for leaks. A trickle from your bathroom may be an easy fix or require professional help. Here are some things you can do yourself:
Check the flapper valve on the tank lid. If it looks worn or torn, replace it with a new one. Make sure it’s not upside down and fits securely into place before reworking everything. Look for signs of damage around the base of your toilet tank where it meets the bowl itself – sometimes, this area will get eroded from years of use and cause a leak.
Check for an expansion tank.
This is a widespread problem, especially when installing a new water heater. The water expansion tank is the one that holds the excess pressure from the water heater. When there is no expansion tank, the extra pressure will cause leaks at the pressure relief valve.
When there is no expansion tank in place, it means that there is no way to release excess pressure from your hot water heating system, and this may lead to leaks at your faucet or, even worse, in some cases where you may have to replace parts of your plumbing system because of damage caused by high pressures in the pipes.
Invest in a plumbing snake.
Most snakes are made from vinyl or rubber tubing with a wire coil. The coils allow the snake to bend around corners and obstructions as you push it through your drain pipes. They’re usually long enough to reach where you need them but short enough that they won’t get caught up on anything (or cause damage if they do).
The most common type of pipe snake is called a “snake auger,” simply one continuous piece of flexible tubing coiled around a central shaft. These snakes are generally suitable for clearing out significant blockages — such as tree roots — from your drains and pipes. They can also pull out smaller blocks that have formed over time due to soap scum buildup or buildup from other materials like hair and food scraps.
As shown in the above post, many plumbing issues may be handled by someone apart from a plumber. Once you take the time to read how to do it, you’ll be amazed at the problems you’ll be doing without the expense of an expert.
Are you looking for a plumber in Wigan or somewhere nearby? Contact M Plumbing today for a free, no-obligation quote.
