It is common for plumbing problems often occur right after a new house is purchased. These problems typically occur in the kitchen or bathroom. Every homeowner will have to deal with a plumbing issues. This article offers sound advice for dealing with these problems as painless as possible.

If any water pipe that you have freezes, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. Doing so provides pressure relief, and might spare you the damage of a burst pipe.

To eliminate the possibility of having frozen pipes, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, even if the house is vacant. Pipes will freeze when the ambient temperature in the area of the pipes dips below freezing. It takes time in order for the pipes to thaw out so you can have running water. However, frozen pipes often burst, and that could make a mess and result in a big repair bill.

If your toilet is clogged, the water level in the toilet is low, and a plunger is not doing the trick, you may be able to resolve the problem by pouring a bucket of warm water into the toilet from waist level or higher. Once the water level is low again, you may repeated this procedure.

Septic Tank

Never use your bare hands to try fixing your garbage disposal. Garbage disposals pose a serious risk, even when flipped off. Search online for a troubleshooting manual for your disposal.

Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it in prime condition. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, cleaning up sewage backup in your home will ultimately cost much more.

Don’t pour cooking grease, leftover frying fat or any oils down your sink drain. When they cool off, they become hard and will clog your pipes. This is primarily true if you are someone who has a garbage disposal; the fats will make the blades go slower and less freely. Keep a container in your kitchen that is used specifically for discarded grease.

Do not pay your plumber until the problem is fixed. You may need to make a small down payment before the job has begun, but never pay the total cost until you know the job has been completed correctly. You want to make sure the plumber completed everything that they said they would before they get your money.

Use baking soda and one cup of vinegar per month to keep the bathtub drain clear and running well. Afterward, place a washcloth or towel over the top of the drain, to keep the chemical reactions contained. Wait for a little while and then allow boiling water to go down the drain. This procedure should be able to clear pipes of hair and soap scum.

Check the floor for any give in order to be sure that there is no damage in the floors. You can save money by noticing and treating this problem as soon as possible.

Clean out your dryer’s lint filter. This can save you a lot of trouble, including preventing fires. Check your lint trap for holes to make sure the lint is not going in your plumbing system.

Use strainers on all drains to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. The ones in the bathroom can be cleaned out on a regular basis.

Keeping up with maintenance is the number one way to keep plumbers from having to come fix issues. One of the most common repairs involves fixing drain clogs. Drains can be clogged by hair. Putting a strainer on your drain can solve this problem. You can remove hair much easier from a screen as opposed to getting it out of the inside of a pipe.

Avoid putting grease, fat, and grease in your drain. This is especially damaging to garbage disposal; the fat can make the blades go slower and less freely. Make certain you dispose of oils in other places other than the sink.

Try not to use drain cleaners too often, it at all. Drain cleaners contain caustic and damaging chemicals which can destroy your pipes if used too often. Especially in cases where you have a drain that clogs repeatedly, getting a professional plumber in to examine the situation may be your best option.

Schedule all the plumbing work simultaneously. 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 charge an hourly rate and a flat rate for the trip: asking a plumber to fix multiple problems in one trip is cheaper than calling them more than once.

You might not be able to control which plumber you have to use, but you can find out all you can about them on the Internet. If your insurer has just given you the name of a plumber, see if they have a website, read any testimonials and other feedback so you know what to expect once they arrive at your home.

Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down your bathtub drain every month.Plug the drain and allow the chemical reaction takes place. After waiting a few minutes, flush it out by running boiling water through the drain. This method should help clear your pipes of hair and soap scum.

Ensure your toilet does not have any leaks. To find out if your toilet is leaking the only thing you need to do is place a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. Now look at the bowl, if you see the water turning colors within seconds, you know there is a problem that much be addressed soon.

Being caught completely unprepared for plumbing dramas is the last thing you should do. All homeowners should have at least a basic understanding on plumbing tools and improvement tips. Avoid a huge plumbing issue by learning to handle the smaller issues as they occur.

Temperatures are dropping, so check your outside faucets for dripping in order to prevent a freezing nightmare. If they are, it is important to have all repairs completed before the temperatures drop below freezing. Regardless of what the pipes in your house are made out of, freezing water will cause them to crack. Even a small crack is capable of releasing enough water to damage or flood your home.