Plumbing 101: Expert Plumbing Advice
Trust us, everyone has stared down a clogged or a matted clog of hair and other muck logged in a pipe. Like most people starting out on their own, there is a temptation to call a professional plumber. People don’t necessarily have the plumbing expertise to get the job done correctly and often cause more costly damages.
We are are here to say with some basic fundamentals you can solve or prevent some of those scary hairy situations.
7 Expert Plumbing Tips for Homeowners
1. Only Flush Toilet Paper.
Toilet paper breaks down in about 24 hours but the following items don’t and will eventually cause clogs or a backup in your home and possibly the sewer systems.
Never Flush These:
- Tampons, maxi pads, and other feminine hygiene products
- Paper towels/tissues
- Diapers
- Baby wipes, cleaning wipes
- Dental floss
- Qtips/cotton balls
- Cooking grease or food
- Pills
2. Learn to Love Plumbing Tape
Besides a hammer and pliers, everyone should have a spare thread or plumber’s seal tape in their toolbox. Plumbing tape is a great tool in the event there is a plumbing repair if you need to thread components together. It also works to create a watertight seal on pipe joints and lubricates the connection. Here are a few other plumbing tools you should have on hand.
3. Look for Leaks
You don’t need to be an expert to look for signs of water! Make sure to check your appliance connections and faucets around the house for any noticeable leaks or signs of moisture. Eventually, leaks can make way for other damages such as mold.
4. Cover Your Drains
Prevent clogs of pesky clumps of hair, slimy pieces of soap and more by putting in drain covers or P traps in sinks, showers, and bathtubs. You’ll just need to clean your drain cover out frequently, but this is much easier than snaking the drain!
5. Fix a Running Toilet
The cause of a running toilet most likely due to a flapper needing to be replaced. The flapper is a rubber plug that presses against the drain hole on the bottom of the tank and holds water until the toilet is flushed. It provides a seal for the flush value and controls how much water is released. Flappers can be found at a hardware store and don’t take much elbow grease to replace.
6. Identify Low Water Pressure
Is your water pressure suddenly low? The blame could most likely be a leaky faucet, block in the pipes or an issue with the aerators. Investigate if the water pressure is low in one area or throughout your entire house.
7. Learn How to Unclog a Drain
You want to learn how to handle a clogged drain before it even happens. Never pour harsh chemicals down the drain and use the correct tool for dislodging clogs when a plunger won’t work. The end of it looks like spring, push it in the drain until you feel the clog, rotate the snake about 2-3 turns to snag the clog. Pull the snake back out and toss the clog in the garbage. Repeat as necessary.
Your Local Plumber
Need professional help? Contact your local plumber. One Hour Rooter is your trusted plumber in the Twin Cities Metro area. Call us at 612-354-8984 if you need help with any plumbing.
