Tools You Might Need When Doing Plumbing Work
A collection of tips on success at plumbing makes the perfect starting point for a beginner. Below is just such a group that will hopefully help the eager novice become a pro when it comes to plumbing.
Make sure you know where your home’s water shutoff is located if you need water heater repair. You never know when there might be an emergency involving a broken pipe or damaged connection that requires you to turn off the water right away. Besides, knowing where the shutoff is located is vital before you start any plumbing project if anything goes wrong.
Roots from a tree in your back yard can be a real headache when it comes to plumbing. If you have a big tree or bush or some plant with a big root system, you ask your plumbing company about root killing agents. You can flush these down your toilet and kill any roots that may be blocking your pipes and save yourself a lot of money by stopping a back up before it happens.
Don’t pay a plumber until the job is completed. A plumber may require some money upfront, but it’s wise to wait until the job is completely done before giving him the entire payment. Many things can happen between the stop and end of a job, so to be safe, wait until you are satisfied with the completed work before paying.
To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek a plumber’s services to make the repairs.
Unclog drains with ease. Try using a plunger and drain cleaner, as your clog may be a build-up of hair and debris. If this doesn’t work, you may have to clear the drain with a snake. Feed the snake into the drain line as far as it will go. Turn the crank gently, which will help to loosen the clog. Remove the snake, and run water down the drain to see if the clog has been removed. You may have to use the snake a couple of times before the clog is cleared, so don’t give up!
Check your gas water heater periodically to make sure the pilot flame is lit. The correct color for this flame should be blue. The tip of love should be yellow. If you only see a yellow flame, you may need to call a professional for safety reasons.
If you want to keep your kitchen drains from clogging up, don’t pour grease down them. As it cools and congeals, it can trap other food or waste particles, which over time, can slow the draining of water and even form a clog that will not be easy to remove.
Investigate the history of a plumber before hiring them. Certain plumbers may not have the necessary skill or experience to deal with more advanced plumbing jobs and make matters worse. Check reviews, and ask your friends and family for recommendations.
Have a specific plumber in mind before you have an emergency. Most people don’t think about plumbers until they find themselves having a big problem that needs to be fixed right away. Instead, choose a plumber who you are comfortable with and whose experience you trust–way before you need his services.
Well, hopefully, the collection as mentioned above of tips were enough to give you a great start on what to do and expect when it comes to maintaining your plumbing. This collection was carefully constructed to aid in your arsenal so that you can begin to hone your plumbing skills into having a great plumbing system.