Handy DIY Plumbing Tips For The Homeowner

When you are trying to do plumbing repairs yourself, you need to know how to start. There are a lot of things to think about, including which tools to buy and what regulations you need to follow. Use these tips to help expand your plumbing knowledge.

If your toilet’s water level is low, the toilet is clogged up, and using a plunger isn’t resolving the issue, hold a bucket filled with warm water at about your waistline, and pour it into your toilet. Do this every time the water level gets too low.

Never reach into a garbage disposal that you think isn’t working. Garbage disposals can be very dangerous, so take caution when fixing it, even while it’s turned off. Locate a diagram of the garbage disposal, or some sort of troubleshooter, online.

Garbage Disposal

Cleaning your in-sink garbage disposal can extend its lifetime significantly. If your garbage disposal begins to emit a bad smell, run some dish detergent and citrus rinds through the cycle to make it smell fresher.

Check overflow holes regularly to prevent blockage. Overflow holes divert water when a sink starts to fill up. That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can be a big problem if there is a clog. The overflow holes should be cleaned out regularly; do this when you are making your regular checks for other issues that necessitate fixing.

It is important to run your faucet with cold water whenever you run your garbage disposal. Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and makes the disposal run more smoothly. If you use hot water, any grease that is in the disposal will turn to liquid, and sit inside of the drain, which can clog your pipes.

Be sure to check your dryer and clear your lint trap of any debris. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Be certain that you thoroughly inspect the trap to ensure there are no tears or holes that may allow lint to travel to the pipes.

Sometimes low pressure in water lines can be fixed just by cleaning sediment out of the aerator. After removing the aerator, use an old toothbrush with some vinegar on it to clean the sediment off. Rinse and reassemble the aerator, then reattach it to your faucet. By removing any grit, grime and debris from the aerator, the water pressure should significantly increase.

Don’t use drain cleaners constantly. The chemicals in these type of cleaners are corrosive, and they could damage your pipes by using them too much. Instead, if you still see your drain clogged up, you might need a professional plumber to come take a look and fix the problem.

There are two ways to get a clean out fitting out. First, the clean-out fitting can be loosened with a hammer and chisel. Your second option is to simply chisel through the plug itself.

As intimidating as plumbing can be, the task usually isn’t as intimidating as it looks. There are just many basics to learn. You just need to do some research, use common sense, and work to find the most effective method to complete your job.