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Ways You Can Plumb Your Own Home

Posted on February 21, 2018 Written by Steven Many say that doing plumbing yourself is hard. If you know what to do and have the right tools, you can fix anything. The article below is full of different tips and tactics you can try out, if you need to solve some plumbing issues.

To keep your pipes from freezing in the winter, insulate all exterior pipes and be sure to keep your interior house temperature above freezing, even if the house is vacant. Obviously, frozen pipes occur due to freezing environmental conditions. Even in the best case scenario, it will take hours for thawing to happen before you have running water again. They could also burst costing you a lot of money and repairs.

To deal with a frozen pipe, turn on the faucet closest to the pipe. This gives the water a place to exit as the pipe defrosts. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

Pump your septic tank every five years to keep it working well. Having it cleaned out prevents the sediment from accumulating in the septic tank and creating a sewage backup in your house or triggering the meltdown of the entire septic system. Although it is somewhat of an expense to pump out a septic tank, it is nothing compared to what you will have to spend on cleaning up a backup of sewage or repairing or replacing your septic system.

TIP! Sifting drainers are available for any size drain to prevent items larger than a grain of sand going into your pipes. Clean out the one in the kitchen whenever there’s something trapped there that shouldn’t be.


Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it working well. This will prevent sediment from piling up in your tank, which could cause it to overflow into your home and yard, or even cause the entire septic system to fail. It will cost some to have the septic tank pumped, but it would cost much more to have it cleaned, repaired or replaced due to sewage back up.

TIP! If you want to make sure your garbage disposal is going to be around as long as the house it is inside of, make sure you clean it often. Using lemon rinds and cherry pits mixed with dish soap will help keep your garbage disposal operating efficiently and smelling fresh.

Check your fixtures to ensure the overflow holes are clear of debris and mineral build-up. These overflow holes are present in case of a clog or overfilling. It may seem unlikely as a problem now, but the necessity is there. Inspect and clean the overflow holes as part of your regular household maintenance.

Save money by getting better shower heads. Most of the hot water we use is from showering. Investing just a few bucks in these newer shower heads can yield triple digit annual savings.

If you notice water draining into your dishwater, check your kitchen sink. The hose might not be installed properly. Your hose must run in a hill pattern to avoid water mixing. Think of the St. Louis Arch — start from your sink, go uphill with the hose, and then down before connecting to the dishwasher. This way, only pressurized water can travel through the hose. Leakage won’t be an issue.

Schedule your plumbing jobs all together. Rather than calling a plumber every time there is a minor problem, taking care of everything at once allows you to save money for additional repairs down the road. Most plumbers have 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.

TIP! Keep your bathtub in good shape by using a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down its drain monthly. Use a plug or rag to cover the drain, because there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes.

Lint Trap

You need to make sure that your lint trap is clean for your dryer. By keeping it clean, you can prevent fires and other problems. Check your lint trap for holes to make sure the lint is not going in your plumbing system.

If you notice water draining into your dishwasher, check how the kitchen sink hoses are installed. The hose connecting the sink the the dishwasher should be at an uphill angle and then downhill to prevent the water from mixing.

TIP! If you have grout deposits inside your pipes, it is almost impossible for an inexperienced homeowner to fix. The grout can be broken up and sent further down.
Filed Under: plumbing Tagged: lint trap, overflow holes, septic tank, shower heads
