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May 2014To the homeowner who is unsure how to fix plumbing issues, it can be quite the challenge. If you hire a professional plumber you are looking at a wait time and pretty costly repairs, most likely for something that can easily be solved on your own. Keep reading to arm yourself with some very useful plumbing advice!
Don't Understand Plumbing? These Tips Can Help!
Don't let your house temperature drop to below freezing and make sure to insulate anything that is exposed to the outside elements to prevent frozen pipes. If the temperature surrounding these pipes is below the freezing point, your pipes could freeze. In the best situation, it can take hours for frozen pipes to thaw and water to run freely again. However, they could burst, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean or treat your toilet. These products will reduce the smell, but they will also cause problems with the rubber gaskets. Over time, the damage will accumulate and could eventually stop the toilet from functioning at all.
However, if you mix a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda and send them down your tub's drain each month, the flow will keep going smoothly. Plug the opening or cover it with a cloth while the chemical reaction takes place. Wait for a little while and then allow boiling water to go down the drain. By taking these steps, you have a good chance of ridding your pipes of hair and soap scum.
Inspect around the toilets for softness in the floors to see if any damage has occurred. You can check for softness or weakness in the floor by placing one foot on each side of the toilet and rocking back and forth. By noticing a problem early on, you can save yourself a bunch of money if you were to leave it alone.
A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is