Anyone who has spent any time in a house with running water knows plumbing problems can and do happen. Sometimes a fix is easy, but sometimes it is not. Whatever your particular situation, you need to be educated about plumbing so you will know if you need to call a plumber, or if you can fix it yourself.
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 pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. In the best situation, it can take hours for frozen pipes to thaw and water to run freely again. The worst case scenario is a busted pipe and a costly repair.
If your pipes freeze, turn on the water from the faucet nearest them to let water out when they start to thaw. This gives the pressure somewhere to go, and can keep them from bursting.
Check the floor for soft areas around the toilet to determine floor damage. Straddle your toilet by rocking it from foot to foot to see if there’s any weakening or softness on the floor below you. Discovering this issue sooner can mean big savings for your checking account, as compared to finding out about it later.
Make a schedule for plumbing work, so it occurs all at approximately the same time. You might want to call every time you need a tiny issue fixed with your plumbing, but if you know the system is bad, if you just call once, you can start saving for the major repair before you call. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one visit to your home.
Do not attempt fixing your garbage disposal with bare hands. Even when in the off position, garbage disposals are dangerous. Locate your garbage disposal manual, or do an Internet search for troubleshooting advice and a diagram that illustrates your model.
As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!
