Water is the source of life, but it can also be a nemesis to the frustrated homeowner dealing with plumbing problems. There are not many things more devastating to a home’s structure than to leave a major plumbing problem.

Obnoxiously loud pipes that like to squeal and hammer are easy situations to correct. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. Enlisting the aid of a professional may be necessary if any of the pipes are located in the floors, walls, or ceiling.

Noisy pipes that make squeaking or hammering sounds are actually a lot easier to fix than you would imagine. You will need to anchor any type of exposed pipes.

To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. Your plumbing can freeze if the air around it is below 32 degrees. If they do freeze, you are looking at some time before they can thaw out, thus you will have to wait for running water. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.

Knowing which tools and how to operate them is essential to any aspiring plumber. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, it could very expensive to fix the mistake.

If you discover a pipe has frozen, open a tap on the line to allow the thawing ice to drain. This will relive some of the pressure, and could prevent cracks from appearing.

If your toilet happens to be clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and the plunger is not working, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. Do this as often as necessary if the water level gets too low.

It is important that you do not pay a plumber in full, until all of the work is complete and satisfactory. Sometimes plumbers will request a cash deposit before any work can commence; however, you avoid paying the total bill until the whole job has been finished to your satisfaction. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.

You can use dish soap, lemon peels, and even cherry pits.

Don’t pour oils, grease or fat down the drain. They can clog your drains once they cool down. This is very true for garbage disposal, since fat will make the blades run less quickly and efficiently. You should dispose of all oils outside of the sink.

Schedule one plumber to take care of all your plumbing work at the same time. You might be tempted to contact a plumber every time you face a small problem, but if you wait and hire the plumber for a single visit, you can save up money for repairs. Most plumbers have an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.

Keep your bathtub drain running well by pouring a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain each month. Seal off the drain with a conventional plug or a piece of fabric while the natural chemical reaction takes place. Wait for a little while, and then pour boiling water down the drain. Although this is useful for clearing away simple clogs made of hair and soap debris, it will not work for serious blockages.

Use lots of cold water when using your garbage disposal.Cold water helps to maintain the sharpness of the blades and allows for smoother disposal.

Check overflow holes to make sure there’s no clog. Overflow holes drain water if a sink begins to overfill, so they need to be clear at all times. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.

Shower Heads

When you replace your shower head, be sure that the replacement head is high quality. Many times people try to save money and buy the cheapest one that they see. These types of fixtures are prone to breakage and are much less sturdy.

You can save lots on energy with the installation of shower heads. Most of hot water we use is in the shower. If you spend several extra dollars putting in energy-saving shower heads, you can realize savings of approximately $100 each year for each shower head.

If you have pipes that are clogged, try a cleaner that is enzyme based. These cleaners use natural bacteria, which turns sludge into liquid and cleans your pipes. The best cleaner available on the market are the enzyme ones.

If you notice water draining into your dishwasher, the problem is most likely a hose running to your kitchen sink that was not correctly installed. The hose from your sink to your dishwasher needs to go up and then down in order for the water of both locations to not mix.

Cleaning the aerator will fix low water pressure issues that are caused from sediment buildup. Take out the aerator, pull it apart, and clean inside with a brush soaked in vinegar. After rinsing the aerator, put it back together and reinstall it. If the problem was caused by a dirty aerator, cleaning it will increase the pressure.

Knowing how plumbing works, having a good idea of how to fix things, and keeping basic plumbing materials at hand will help avoid major plumbing problems. The savvy homeowner who takes the time to learn even a little about plumbing is better able to make good decisions while avoiding plumbing situations that could become dangerous. Also, a homeowner who researches solutions before working on plumbing will avoid potential disasters.

Most people run water in their sink when using their garbage disposal. A lot of people assume that running water while running the disposal will help the contents to flush through better, but really this is not helpful. Water can cause food to stick to the moving parts, and this could create damage.