Whether you like it or not, leaky pipes, malfunctioning toilet and clogged sinks are a part of life’s obstacles. They sometimes barge in your schedule when you least want them to and they add to the daily stress. That is why it doesn't hurt to develop residential plumbing troubleshooting savvy so that you do not have to call your local plumber each time water does not go down the drain. Consider these useful tips so that when the circumstance calls for it, you come prepared with a few tricks up your sleeve.
Plumbing Tip 1: Locate the Main Water Shut-off Valve
This is duck soup yet not all homeowners know where this important control is situated. You must know where the control of the main source of water is located so that when a residential plumbing crisis crops up, you can switch off the main source to prevent more unwelcome water to invade your home. The main shut-off is often situated at the curb, where commonly an access point is provided at the sidewalk.
Plumbing Tip 2: Never Flush Anything into Your Toilet, Except for Toilet Paper
Remind household members to refrain from flushing paper towels, sanitary napkins and other types of paper that are denser than toilet paper as they can obstruct the sewer pipe that can cause the toilet to malfunction.
Plumbing Tip 3: What to Do With Slow-Draining Sinks?
If you notice that your sink unusually takes time to drain, you may need to clear the pipes from sludge build-up. If your home is quite old already and the drain does not positively respond to various chemicals and plunging, then this us your cue to snake the pipes. Snaking is the method of cleaning the pipes which is performed from the roof through the duct pipes. To do this, you will need to rent a snake unit from a local equipment rental company. You must be aware that this process would require some muscle to push down the snake into the vents. The drain clean outs, which are located at ground level, also need to be “snaked out”. If you are not up to this challenge, you can simply hire a licensed plumber to do the job and shell out around $250.
Plumbing Tip 4: What to Do With Sink Faucets and Shower Heads That Give Out Low Volume of Water?
This could be caused by the accumulation of calcium, otherwise known as lime-scale which is a by-product of hard water, and by the accumulation of gravel in the faucet head screen. To address calcium build-up, detach the faucet and clean it with vinegar to dissolve the lime scale. To rid of the collection of gravel, you have to clean the screen. Detach the head by rotating at the point of water flow. Keep in mind how you disassemble it so that you can put it exactly together again as it was before. Especially if this is your first time, take a picture of it using your cellphone camera to help you remember how it looks like when assembled. Once it has been disassembled, clean the inside screen from gravel and calcium so that water can freely flow again. Then reassemble. You can also do the same process for shower heads that give off limited water, which may be caused by lime-scale buildup. Clean every three to four months.
Plumbing Tip 5: The Rest.
- Check washing machine hoses regularly for wear. If you have rubber or plastic hoses, replace them with stainless steel braided hoses.
- Check accessible pipes around washing machine, air conditioner and water heater for leaks. Early detection can make a big difference in the extent and cost of any repairs.
- Get an annual checkup for your water heater. Sediment can build up at the bottom of a traditional water heater causing unneeded wear on the equipment and inefficient heating. A professional plumber can make sure your water heater is performing to its full potential.
Residential plumbing helps to make living in your home comfortable by bringing different types of water to where it is needed: clean, fresh water to your shower, sink faucets and the like, and soiled water down the drain and toilet. However, glitches can unexpectedly arise. When you have a problem you can't handle or aren't sure of, that's when you call Irvine Medallion Plumbing.