If you’re the kind of person who prefers to try and handle things on your own rather than hiring a professional to do the job for you, this article is one that you’ll be happy to read. That’s because when it comes to providing the plumbing system inside your house with the kind of maintenance it needs, it’s going to offer you some suggestions on how you can do just that.
So, are you excited to read about five ways to be a great DIY plumber? If so, please read on.
Insulate your pipes. When the fall and winter seasons roll around, one of the most effective ways to winterize your home is to insulate your pipes. All you need to do is go to one of your local home improvement stores and pick up some foam or fiberglass to wrap around your pipes. Not only will it keep them from potentially cracking or breaking, but insulating your pipes will insure that warm and hot water gets to you a lot quicker as well. For more information on how to insulate your pipes, visit DIY Network and put “insulate pipes” in the search field.
Use homemade solutions to unclog your pipes. Having a clogged pipe (or two) is something that happens to all us at one time or another. And while you could go to your local grocery or drug store to purchase a commercial brand to unclog your drain, the challenge with that is many of them contain a lot of harsh chemicals. The good news is that there is a less expensive and milder alternative. You can make your own de-clogging solutions with the help of boiling water, caustic soda, and even baking soda and vinegar. You can learn more about how to use these items to clear at your pipes by going to Wise Bread and putting “easy ways to unclog drains” in the search field.
Try a wet-dry vacuum on occasion. If you have little children who are notorious for putting things in the toilet or you’re wondering what you can do to prevent hair from clogging up the bathtub drain, try using a wet-dry vacuum. It is one of the easiest ways to remove big items like brushes and toys from the toilet. Plus, by putting it directly onto the drain once a month, it is sure to pull out a lot of the hair that’s trapped inside.
Consider using a magnet to find pipes. If you were to ask a professional plumber who works for a company like Northeast Plumbing about something else that you can do on your own, what they might recommend is that you invest in a few magnets. Whether you’re in the process of doing a major renovation or you sense that a pipe underneath your flooring is causing a plumbing issue, attaching an earth (neodymium) magnet to some electrical fish tape and then putting it down into one of your drain pipes should help you locate it. You can find earth (neodymium) magnets at your local Home Depot.
Know when to use a plumber. Although it really would be awesome if you could fix every single plumbing problem that you have, when you do feel a bit overwhelmed or you sense you might be doing more damage than good, it really is OK to call a professional plumber over to assist you. Remember, they are qualified in dealing with all sorts of plumbing challenges. To find a good plumber in your area, visit FindLocal-Plumber.