Do’s And Don’ts Of Home Plumbing

If your house has damp floor, leaky pipes, musty odor in the rooms, with the sinks spilling dirty water then it is time to get plumbing done at home. Isn’t it an ugly sight to see all the grey water back up in the kitchen, and slowly taking over your different rooms and closets? It can get very traumatic especially if you are new to the unpleasant plumbing realities. In the morning you wash your dishes and suddenly realize that you are standing in a mushrooming puddle of dirty water. The sight of water flowing and bubbling around the edges of the sink is really awful. In such a dreadful situation your first reaction is to search all the possible places in the house like the pipe, drain, kitchen sink, and toilet to find where the leakage or blockage has occurred. Then you call a plumber who in most cases will quote a price that can give you a mini heart attack. Hence, one must have a basic idea of those messy problems of plumbing like fixing noisy pipes and leaky base plates. One should have a rough idea of all the home plumbing needs for kitchens and bathrooms. So, if you face problems of dripping faucet, water not hot enough, leaking pipes and blocked drainages, then read the do’s and don’ts of home plumbing to prevent any plumbing emergences.

Things To Consider And Avoid While Home Plumbing

What You Should Do When You Are Home Plumbing

When you use a disposer, open the tap and run water at full pressure to dissolve and remove the waste material smoothly.
You should check and scrutinize the toilets for any leaks once in a year. When not using the toilet keep it covered.
You should always check out for any seams and crevices on walls around showers and tubs regularly. Always check the inside rim of the shower door to ensure that they are free of leaks.
Check for any damage to the cutoff valves every two times in a year. Check them by opening and closing all the cutoff valves. During winter you should shut off all the outside valves.
From time to time you must remove and clean all aerators so as to save the water and energy cost.
To keep your water heater working in proper condition open and clean the drain on the water heater at least two times a year to remove sediment.
Keep your toilet tanks that are above water level well oiled. To avoid complete blockage spray oil on valves those are not frequently used.
Throw two to three gallons of hot water in the shower and tub drains at least once a month to clear them.
During the winter season the water pipes are exposed to wind and freezing temperatures that might cause blockages. You can use heat guns or blow dryers to liquefy the frozen pipes. You should consider insulating the pipes exposed to harsh weather.
Keep your plumber’s phone number handy, and also have a diagram of your sewer system ready, for use in case of emergencies.

What You Should Not Do When Home Plumbing

You should not keep wastebaskets under the sinks. This is because you may hit the pipes while taking the baskets out and putting it in. This can cause leakages.
Do not throw disposable diapers and sanitary napkins in the toilet as they can block the drainage system.
Do not throw small kitchen wastes like tea leaves into your sink drains as they can block the water flow. Also, do not put fats or cooking oils into your sink.
Do not use boiling water into the toilet as it can crack the bowl. Avoid using your toilet lid as a shelf. Do not make a knick-knack shelf over your toilet and also over the sink.
Avoid placing any auto cleaning device in your toilet tank. Do not use any drain cleaners containing lye and acid.
Don’t run the dishwasher if it is filled with food waste. Segregate the waste materials like the peels of vegetables, wastes from washing and cleaning fruits and vegetables or any fibrous material as it can choke the sink. Put them in a garbage disposer.
Do not plant trees or large shrubs over the sewage lines. Also, do not dig holes or trenches in your yard for sewer lines or gas pipes.
Do not let children play with small toys in the bathroom. Avoid using torches, flames or lighters to defrost the frozen pipes.

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