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10 Plumbing Tricks and Tips You Need to Know

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If you’re having a clogged pipe, a dripping tap, or excessive water pressure, then you might want to contact one of our best plumbers in Sydney. Well, that’s a good reason to call your plumber.

Most homeowners lack the basic skills required to do DIY plumbing jobs. Some homeowners end up worsening plumbing problems when trying to fix them by themselves.

plumbing tips and tricks for homeowners

If you worsen an existing problem, you’ll have to deal with costly repairs on your damaged property. Luckily, there’s still something you can do to avoid calling your plumber every time a plumbing issue arises.

Here are 10 plumbing tricks and tips you should know. These tips might save you from spending a lot on hiring plumbing services.

  1. Know where all the main valves are located

Before settling in a new house, know where the main valves are located. This will help to turn off the water supply in case of an emergency such as a burst pipe.

Also, know where the main drain line is located. Know more about the access points to the sewer line just in case you’ll need to do regular cleanouts. However, some condos and apartments might not have individual valves.

  1. Know what is flushable and what is not

Always avoid using your toilet like a bathroom trash can. Flushing anything other than toilet paper and your waste matter may cause serious toilet clogs. Even the so-called flushable wipes can clog your toilet.

  1. Avoid dumping garbage in the drain

As a homeowner who values your home, you should never dump bacon grease, coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, food debris, coffee grounds, or even starchy foods such as potatoes and rice down the drainage.

They’ll most probably clog your drain. It’ll also help to go through the manual of your kitchen garbage disposal. Doing so will assist in knowing what the garbage disposal can handle and what it can’t.

  1. Avoid puncturing your pipes

If you’re planning to pound nails or drill holes through the ceiling, floor, or wall, first determine whether there’s a drainage pipe or supply line behind that area.

The last thing you’d want is puncturing the pipes accidentally. You can use a stud finder to locate the pipes that may be hidden behind the walls.

A stud finder in inexpensive. Alternatively, you can use an endoscopic type of camera to check for pipes by snaking it through a wall.

  1. Make vacuuming your friend

When attempting to dislodge clogs caused by small and hard objects such as children toys, combs, or toothbrushes, then use a wet and dry vacuum to suck it out.

Vacuuming works better to dislodge small objects, unlike a plunger which only pushes objects deeper down the drainage. If an object is pushed further down the drainage, it’ll be more challenging to remove it.

  1. Plunging

Plunging is effective in clearing minor clogs in drains, sinks, and clogs. In case you want to clean your sink traps, then use a sink plunger push water through it before detaching the sink trap. Doing so will make the cleanout less messy and less wet.

  1. Make good use of plumber’s tape

Sealing pipe threads is essential to prevent water leak around fittings and joints. Pipe threads can be easily sealed with high-quality plumber’s tape. Plumber’s tape is also known as Teflon tape.

You’ll need to wrap the threads with the tape 3 times before connecting any plumbing fittings and joints. Note that yellow tape is specially designed for use in gas lines whereas white plumber’s tape is ideal for general household plumbing.

  1. Always check your plumbing system for leaks

Upon doing a plumbing project, it’ll help to check for any leaks. You can do this by letting water run through the pipes. Open and close the valves. You won’t miss noticing small leaks just in case something is wrong. Reseal any leaking connection.

  1. Never ignore plumbing leaks

The steady drips that keep falling off from your pipes or faucets can lead to increased water bills. Leaking faucets waste several gallons of precious water daily.

The toilet can actually waste more than a hundred gallons every day. Always fix water leaks soonest possible. Even the smallest leak should never be ignored since it can turn out to become a bigger, costlier problem.

  1. Avoid over-tightening your plumbing fittings

Most homeowners over-tighten their plumbing connections and fittings when doing DIY plumbing projects. Doing so can lead to stripped screws and broken bolts. The best connection is the one that is hand-tight.

Plumbing 101

By having the right information about plumbing in mind, you’ll easily handle basic plumbing problems by yourself.

Always explore all the available options before taking your phone to call your local plumber. However, when something is beyond your knowledge, you’d rather leave it to the experts.