Some Basic Plumbing Tips

Plumbing Tips - Drains

Place a strainer over kitchen and bathroom drains if they do not already have one; this will prevent hair, pieces of soap, and other debris from clogging drains. Clean the strainer as needed.

Unclog a drain mechanically rather than chemically when possible.

Use chemical drain cleaners sparingly, especially if your pipes or traps are brass, steel, or cast-iron; some chemicals may corrode metal pipes. Try this instead: pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down your drain every month.

The drains in showers and in bathroom sinks typically need extra care; pour two or three gallons of boiling water down each bathroom drain about once a month to clear out hair and greasy particles.

Every week or two remove sink and tub pop-up stoppers and rinse them off.

Every three or four months remove the overflow plate on the tub.

Then pull up the pop-up assembly to reach the spring or rocker arm.

Remove accumulated hair and rinse thoroughly.

If your shower drain is plugged up:
- Try a plunger first.
-If the plunger doesn't unplug the drain, insert a plumber's helper ("snake") down the drain.

Prevent drain clogs by putting a lint trap on your washing machine discharge hose.

Plumbing Tips - Toilets

If your toilet is stopped up and if the water level is low, there is an alternative if a plunger doesn't work.

Fill a bucket or plastic wastebasket with warm water and pour it into the bowl from waist level or higher.

Repeat if necessary after the water level is once again low.

Periodically check your toilets for leaks: -Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank -not the bowl. A couple of tablespoons of instant coffee or Kool-Aid will work too.

Check the toilet after about thirty minutes. If the water in the bowl has some of the color in it, the tank is leaking and the stopper ("flapper") and/or flush valve seat may need to be replaced.

Plumbing Tips - Disposals

It is best to use cold water -NOT hot water - when you run your disposal. Let the cold water run as long as the motor is running, and be sure to avoid overloading the disposal.

Corn husks, artichokes, onion skins, celery, and other high-fiber material can clog your disposal.

 

Plumbing Tips - Frozen Pipes

Don’t let your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter.

Unattach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive in the fall.

Then close the shut-off valve on the pipe(s) which lead to your outdoor faucet(s).

Then open the outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain.

If your indoor faucets sometimes freeze in very cold weather:

Try leaving the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get a bit more heat.

In extreme cases let the water trickle very slowly into the sink.

Insulate water pipes which may be exposed to freezing temperatures or wind. Water pipes which are not being used should be drained for the winter in areas where there may be severely cold weather.

If there is plumbing in your garage, be sure to keep your garage door closed when it is very cold. Pipes in unheated garages or basements should be insulated.

Plumbing Tips - Faucets

Repair or replace a leaky faucet promptly.

Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or leaks. Even a slow leak can waste as much as 15 or 20 gallons of water a day. But a leak not only wastes water; it can eventually ruin your faucet or even your cabinets and floors.

Leaky faucets are ordinarily caused by seals which are dirty or worn. You may either clean or replace the worn parts, or you may want to install a new faucet.

Do not pour fats or cooking oils into your sink. Liquid fats can solidify in cold drainpipes, trap food particles, and clog the drains.

Do not put coffee grounds down the drain.

If your disposal is clogged, turn off the motor and the water.

Reach under the sink and insert the service wrench that came with your disposal -or a < inch Allen wrench- into the hole on the bottom of the disposal. Turn it back and forth until it can turn freely in complete circles.

Then use tongs to remove whatever caused the disposal to jam.

Finally, press the red "reset" button on the bottom of your disposal in case the disposal needs to be reset.

Food particles which remain in your disposal can cause odors. Put a combination of ice cubes and lemon peel in the disposal, run it for about thirty seconds, and then run cold water through the disposal. Disposal cleaner or degreaser may help too.

We hope these tips would help.