A couple of plumbing tricks can go a long way. If you’re like most people, we learn by our mistakes; but it doesn’t need to be that way. I tell my kids it’s better if you learn by my mistakes, but you know, that doesn’t go very far. We should all take the few extra steps to learn about our home plumbing system. Let me give you an example. This past week I could hear a toilet running now and again. I took my own advice and put a couple of drops of food coloring in all three toilets in the house. Lo and behold, in two of three of the toilets coloring showed up in the toilet bowl. When the coloring shows up in the bowl, it means you’re toilet is leaking. In one toilet, it was dark green while the other was slightly green. Our home is twenty-three years old, and we still have the original toilets. Because of their age, I chose to replace them with the new dual flush toilet. It uses less water, and they come at a great value.
Getting to know your plumbing system is wise, and knowing a couple of plumbing tricks can prevent some possible big-money repairs. I think many homeowners can tell you firsthand how plumbing problems have a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it.
Know-How To Shut Off All Appliances And Fixtures
The first thing you should know is where the shut-off valves are to every sink, toilet, and washing machine. You should also know how to shut off the water to all appliances and fixtures. Additionally, you should know how to shut off the water to the whole house from the main shut-off valve. It might surprise you that many homeowners don’t know how to turn the water off in their homes. Another piece of advice, go through and turn each valve on and off to make sure it’s in proper working order.
I told you earlier that I decided to change my leaky toilets. When I went to turn off the compression inlet valve, it quickly started to leak. The valve probably had not been turned off in twenty-three years. At least once or twice a year, turn your valves on and off to make sure they’re working correctly. If they start to leak quickly, have them replaced. If they’ve never been replaced, then it’s a good idea to replace them all at once.
Learn How To Tackle Small Problems
I can still remember my mom saying, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Whenever I can tackle small plumbing problems, I jump into action before calling my Big B’s Plumber. I own a small auger, also known as a plumber’s snake. If my drain backs up, I’m ready to clear it myself. Another trick to keep your bathroom drains flowing properly is to put baking soda and vinegar down them. My niece came to visit, and she told me that her bathroom drains were moving slowly in her apartment’s shower. I told her to pour a small amount of baking soda down the drain then drizzle vinegar over it. She made sure she told me that it worked beautifully. You can repeat the process a couple of times, then boil a kettle of scalding hot water to pour down the drain. Taking the time to know your plumbing system and learning some plumbing tricks can go a long way. License #986152
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Common Plumbing Problems Part #1
Common Plumbing Problems Part #2
Plumbing Problems When Buying An Old Vintage Home
