A little bit of knowledge about plumbing can save you a lot of money. You have considered it before, but just never set the time aside to do so. Read on for some great information on the basics of plumbing, and you will feel more empowered to handle any plumbing emergencies that come up, even if you don’t have a plumber that can show up right away.

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.

Don’t be tempted to use commercial bleach tablets, blue toilet tablets or any other product that claims to prevent toilet odor. They can clean the bowl and remove odors, but they also damage the soft plastic and rubber parts in and around your toilet.

Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. Your kitchen sink strainer needs cleaning every time something big gets stuck in it. Bathtub drains should be cleaned regularly as well.

Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. Cover it with a plug or rag, because a chemical reaction is sure to occur in your pipes. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. This method should clear your pipes of accumulated hair and soap scum.

Use a cleaner that is enzyme based if you want to clean clogged pipes. These cleaners use natural bacteria to turn the sludge into a liquid, and remove it from your pipes. These enzyme cleaners are probably the best that exist.

To reduce your plumbing repair costs, use preventative maintenance measures. Drain clogging is a very common plumbing problem. Loose hair is often the culprit if your drain keeps getting clogged. Putting a strainer on your drain can solve this problem. Cleaning a screen is is a lot easier than cleaning out your pipe.

If you have grout in your water line, you shouldn’t try cleaning it yourself because it will be pointless. You can break the grout up and make it go further down the line. This works better with plastic than metal pipes. However, you may never be fully rid of the grout without the assistance of a professional.

Having knowledge about plumbing is very valuable. Not only will you be able to prevent unnecessary expenditures, you can be a terrific help to friends and loved ones. Hopefully this article proved interesting and useful.