Anyone who owns a home knows that you have to perform periodic maintenance on it which no doubt includes plumbing. And it doesn't matter how much preventive maintenance you perform on your house, someday, something will eventually break and you will either have to repair it or replace it.
When it comes to plumbing, these repairs will be so much easier and less expensive if you have some basic plumbing tools and some basic plumbing knowledge. These breakdowns will probably be a lot less severe if you are performing preventive maintenance on your plumbing system. The most common problem in plumbing is the dreaded clogged drain which gets things like hair, grease buildup, leftover food, etc. Definitely want to prevent as much as possible these from clogging your drain so that you do not have a flooding accident.
The number one cause of clogged drains that can be prevented is the dreaded grease buildup. The best way is just to not pour it down the drain. Dump it into an old metal coffee can or something metal and disposable with a lid and let it cool for a bit and then pour in there and throw away. Other cloggers such as hair and food can be caught with a simple basket that you keep over your drain.
One measure that can be taken in the area of prevention is utilizing low flow or water saving fixtures. These can be aerators, faucets and shower heads. This not only saves water, it saves money on your sewage bill as well.
There are also some smaller jobs related to plumbing that the "average household Joe" can take care of. Periodic replacement of P traps under sinks, use of periodic drain cleaner to keep those pipes nice and clean, flushing out your hot water heater to prevent scale buildup (if electric). With just a little knowledge from the internet and some basic tools, most homeowners will have no problem tackling these small jobs.
There will come a job, a larger job that you just can not tackle. And it's ok. Just call the plumber. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you do. Never, ever settle for a repair based on hourly wages. Get a quote. Matter of fact get two. Ask for proof of insurance, and check to ensure that he is licensed in the state if required. Those are the biggy's.
When it comes to plumbing, these repairs will be so much easier and less expensive if you have some basic plumbing tools and some basic plumbing knowledge. These breakdowns will probably be a lot less severe if you are performing preventive maintenance on your plumbing system. The most common problem in plumbing is the dreaded clogged drain which gets things like hair, grease buildup, leftover food, etc. Definitely want to prevent as much as possible these from clogging your drain so that you do not have a flooding accident.
The number one cause of clogged drains that can be prevented is the dreaded grease buildup. The best way is just to not pour it down the drain. Dump it into an old metal coffee can or something metal and disposable with a lid and let it cool for a bit and then pour in there and throw away. Other cloggers such as hair and food can be caught with a simple basket that you keep over your drain.
One measure that can be taken in the area of prevention is utilizing low flow or water saving fixtures. These can be aerators, faucets and shower heads. This not only saves water, it saves money on your sewage bill as well.
There are also some smaller jobs related to plumbing that the "average household Joe" can take care of. Periodic replacement of P traps under sinks, use of periodic drain cleaner to keep those pipes nice and clean, flushing out your hot water heater to prevent scale buildup (if electric). With just a little knowledge from the internet and some basic tools, most homeowners will have no problem tackling these small jobs.
There will come a job, a larger job that you just can not tackle. And it's ok. Just call the plumber. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you do. Never, ever settle for a repair based on hourly wages. Get a quote. Matter of fact get two. Ask for proof of insurance, and check to ensure that he is licensed in the state if required. Those are the biggy's.
