If you're a new homeowner, it's important you learn some beginner plumbing tips. It's not as much fun as decorating and painting rooms in new colors, but it's a set of skills you should have in your homeowner arsenal.
Here are ten things you should know if you're a homeowner newbie:
- Where your main water shutoff valve is located. If you ever experience any kind of water malfunction, leaks, or flooding, you can turn off your house's water supply at the main shutoff valve. A water emergency can cause extensive damage quickly. By turning off the water supply you can prevent the damage from reaching its full potential. Make sure all your family members who are old enough to be able to turn it off in a water emergency know where it is, too.
- How to clear a slow drain. If your bathroom sink is draining slowly, there are a couple things you can do. First, use a sink tool to pull out any accumulated hair, which is often a source of obstruction. Then, pour some warm water mixed with about a half cup of vinegar down the drain.
- Watch what you put down the kitchen sink. Refrain from putting any grease or oils down the sink. When it solidifies it clogs the drain. Also, don't put large pieces of food debris down the drain.
- The importance of installing a strainer in the shower and tub. This is an easy way to catch hair and other globs of soap and shampoo before it goes down the drain and blocks up the pipes.
- Replace your washing machine hoses. This should be done every three to five years. A bad or aging hose can lead to leaks and breakage, and can quickly lead to floods in the laundry room, and the areas next to it.
- The ins and outs of your water heater, whether it's a standard model or a tankless heater. Specifically, you should know the age and condition of your heater. You should also be familiar with any warranty it has. The heater should be drained about once a year.
- Whether the toilets are leaking. Open the tank and add a few drops of food coloring. You have a leak if the color appears in the bowl during the next 30 minutes.
- If all connections are tight. This goes for dishwashers, ice makers, and washing machines.
- Never use a liquid cleaner to try to clear the drain. While these cleaners promise results, many end up ruining your pipes. If you can't fix the problem with a hand snake or plunger, you should contact a plumber.
- How to clean faucets and showerheads. These parts typically collect mineral build-up, causing the water to come out slower. The best way to clean them is by soaking them in vinegar then scrubbing off the build-up.
For answers to your questions about beginner plumbing tips, or any other plumbing issue that arises, contact the Pink Plumber today.
