| Plumbing |
Plumbing Issues
Plumbing problems usually revolve around one of three things: clogs, leaks, or
drips. It pays to be familiar with your plumbing system so you can minimize the
damage caused by plumbing problems as well as fix minor problems on your
own.
The most important thing you can do is find out where the main water shutoff
valve is and how to turn it off. This is usually either outside your home or in
your basement or crawlspace. If you can not find it or don’t know how to turn it
off, contact your utility company and have them show you. If any tools are
necessary to turn off your water, keep them handy. Being able to shut your
water off at the main valve can be vital to reducing damage to your home if a
pipe were to burst.
You should also check each plumbing appliance (sinks, toilets, etc.) for their
own shutoff valves and verify they work. If the valves fail to turn off water to the
appliance, you should have them fixed by a professional plumber. These
valves come in handy when the need arises to repair individual appliances. If
an appliance has no valves, you will need to shut off your water at the main
valve to repair it.
When it comes to clogs and slow drains, an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure. In the tub or shower, invest in an inexpensive hair trap or screen
to prevent the majority of hair and soap scum from going down the drain. In the
kitchen, don’t pour cooking grease down your drain. It will harden and coat
your pipes with a sticky scum that will catch other particles and eventually clog
the pipe. Instead, keep it in a coffee can or milk container and dispose of it
with your garbage once it’s cooled. You should also avoid dumping coffee
grounds down the drain. They’re notorious for causing clogs.
Maintaining your drains on a weekly basis is also a good idea to keep your
pipes clear. One way to do this is to pour a half-cup of salt, a half-cup of
baking soda and a half-cup of vinegar down the drain and follow with two
quarts of boiling water.
If you do encounter a clog, don’t panic. Clogs and slow drains most commonly
occur in areas that can be easily cleared on your own without the help of a pro
(if more than one drain or toilet is affected, you will need to contact a plumber).
First, try a plunger. www.repair-home.com/Using_a_Snake, has easy to follow
instructions for the use of a pipe-snake. There is also the option of using
chemical clog removers. Be sure to follow the package instructions when
using them.
Leaks can be slowed or stopped until you’re able to get a plumber out to your
home by following the steps on this article: www.ehow.com/how_2329_repair-
leaky-pipes.html. Please keep in mind that this is a temporary measure only,
but it will help prevent water damage until your plumber fixes the problem.
Many plumbing repair projects don’t require the help of a professional.
Replacing faucets, garbage disposals, sinks, and toilets are all easily
accomplished by the do-it-yourselfer if you have the right tools and
information. DIYnet.com is a great resource for many home repair projects.
If you would like a thorough, professional inspection of your plumbing system
by an expert, please contact our office. We have the expertise to detect
problems invisible to the untrained eye to help you head off problems before
they start. We will also provide you with a full report summarizing our findings
and recommended course of action if necessary as well as estimated costs of
repair.
Plumbing problems usually revolve around one of three things: clogs, leaks, or
drips. It pays to be familiar with your plumbing system so you can minimize the
damage caused by plumbing problems as well as fix minor problems on your
own.
The most important thing you can do is find out where the main water shutoff
valve is and how to turn it off. This is usually either outside your home or in
your basement or crawlspace. If you can not find it or don’t know how to turn it
off, contact your utility company and have them show you. If any tools are
necessary to turn off your water, keep them handy. Being able to shut your
water off at the main valve can be vital to reducing damage to your home if a
pipe were to burst.
You should also check each plumbing appliance (sinks, toilets, etc.) for their
own shutoff valves and verify they work. If the valves fail to turn off water to the
appliance, you should have them fixed by a professional plumber. These
valves come in handy when the need arises to repair individual appliances. If
an appliance has no valves, you will need to shut off your water at the main
valve to repair it.
When it comes to clogs and slow drains, an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure. In the tub or shower, invest in an inexpensive hair trap or screen
to prevent the majority of hair and soap scum from going down the drain. In the
kitchen, don’t pour cooking grease down your drain. It will harden and coat
your pipes with a sticky scum that will catch other particles and eventually clog
the pipe. Instead, keep it in a coffee can or milk container and dispose of it
with your garbage once it’s cooled. You should also avoid dumping coffee
grounds down the drain. They’re notorious for causing clogs.
Maintaining your drains on a weekly basis is also a good idea to keep your
pipes clear. One way to do this is to pour a half-cup of salt, a half-cup of
baking soda and a half-cup of vinegar down the drain and follow with two
quarts of boiling water.
If you do encounter a clog, don’t panic. Clogs and slow drains most commonly
occur in areas that can be easily cleared on your own without the help of a pro
(if more than one drain or toilet is affected, you will need to contact a plumber).
First, try a plunger. www.repair-home.com/Using_a_Snake, has easy to follow
instructions for the use of a pipe-snake. There is also the option of using
chemical clog removers. Be sure to follow the package instructions when
using them.
Leaks can be slowed or stopped until you’re able to get a plumber out to your
home by following the steps on this article: www.ehow.com/how_2329_repair-
leaky-pipes.html. Please keep in mind that this is a temporary measure only,
but it will help prevent water damage until your plumber fixes the problem.
Many plumbing repair projects don’t require the help of a professional.
Replacing faucets, garbage disposals, sinks, and toilets are all easily
accomplished by the do-it-yourselfer if you have the right tools and
information. DIYnet.com is a great resource for many home repair projects.
If you would like a thorough, professional inspection of your plumbing system
by an expert, please contact our office. We have the expertise to detect
problems invisible to the untrained eye to help you head off problems before
they start. We will also provide you with a full report summarizing our findings
and recommended course of action if necessary as well as estimated costs of
repair.
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