Tips for homeowners

Plumbing tips for homeowners

You don’t always need a plumber. These simple steps can save you the time and cost of hiring a plumber.

1.Find your main water shutoff valve.
Your main water shutoff valve turns off all the water to your home. This is important if you’re changing faucets, repairing a toilet, or if you ever have a major leak, like a busted pipe.

2.Keep your drains flowing – use a sink tool to pull out accumulated hair.

Hair and soap scum are two ways drains can get clogged. Regular use of a sink unclogging tool to pull out accumulated hair will help keep your drains flowing. You should be able to find these tools at your local hardware store.

3.Clear your drains with baking soda, vinegar, and warm water.

Over time, your drains will get caked with debris that’s passed through your pipes. Before you call a plumber, try adding a little baking soda and vinegar. The baking soda will stick to the debris and the vinegar will act as a cleaning agent. After a few minutes, flush the drain by running warm water.

4.Don’t use liquid cleaners. These will damage your pipes.

Enough said. Although drain cleaners are promoted as helpful to clear drain clogs, they contain chemicals that are not only harmful to you but will damage your pipes over time.

5.Keep a plunger on hand.

Another handy tool to keep around is a plunger. When you seal a plunger around the toilet drain and push, the pressure pushes down on the water and helps to break up any blockage.

6.Don’t put grease or oils down the sink.

Cooking oils and fats have no place in your sink drains or your toilet! The film that will accumulate on the sides of your pipes will act as a magnet for other bits of food, soap, etc. and soon create a clog. It’s also not good for the water supply. Pour your grease and oils into a cup or wipe then with a paper towel and dispose of them in the garbage.

7.Install a strainer in the shower and tub to catch hair and soaps.

One of the biggest creators of clogs is the hair and soap that goes down the shower drain. A handy drain strainer helps keep your drains clear.

8.Check your hose connections are tight.

If you’re finding drips around your garden hose, dishwashers or washing machines, you may need to tighten or replace your connections. A leaking hose can cause a lot of damage if not repaired quickly.

9.Keep your faucets and showerheads clear of mineral buildup.

One way to clean your faucets and showerheads is to soak them now and again in vinegar and give them a scrub. This will help remove mineral deposits that clog up the spouts!

And most of all,

10.Keep your plumber’s number on hand! Dundee Services 519-619-0455