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Choose The Best Plumber For The Job

Plumbing can really get you in a bad situation. It is your responsibility to make sure that you know at least the basics to ensure that you do not lose valuable property and end up costing yourself much more money. Use this article for the best plumbing advice.

To avoid wasting water and having a potentially high water bill, check your home for leaky faucets periodically. Fix any leaks that you find right away. You may be able to do the repair yourself, but if not, you may have to seek the services of a plumber to make the repairs.

Use strainers in all drains to catch hair and other objects. This will prevent all the material from going down the drain and causing a clog, which can cause a bigger problem down the line. Clean out the strainers daily so that you don't start getting backup of water in your sink or tub.

Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shut off valve is and that they know how to work it. That way, if there is a water problem, anyone in your household can turn off the water, thereby reducing the chances that your home will incur major water damage.

If you notice water draining into your dishwater, check your kitchen sink. The hose might not be installed properly. This hose must lead uphill and downhill to prevent mixing water between the kitchen sink and the dishwasher.

Check overflow holes to make sure there's no clog. If your sink starts to overflow, the water will run into the overflow holes, this might not be a huge issue, unless they are clogged. Clear overflow holes when doing periodic checks for problems and plumbing issues that should be addressed.

Sometimes kitchen sinks can be clogged up due to a slow accumulation of solidified grease. One quick fix for this is to try pouring very hot grease down the sink, which will liquefy the grease clogging the drain and carry it down. Water won't work, because grease will not dissolve in water.

Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!

Get a good quality replacement shower head. Some people think that one shower head is like any other, so decide on price alone. The issue with that is they're less tough and can break.

If you own property where the temperature gets below freezing for an extended amount of time each year, you should make sure that pipes located in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces and garages, are insulated. Pipes that are exposed to the outside elements or those that are prone to freezing, should be protected by heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables to prevent them from freezing.

To prevent pipe banging when you turn on the water, think about rubber blankets or straps. Instead of assuming the pipes need replaced, consider anchoring them or buffering them. If your pipes are plastic, leave them some room for expansion and contraction. If pipes do not leak but just make noise, eliminate the noise.

As the winter months encroach on your home, check your outdoor faucets for dripping and leaking. If your faucets are click here dripping, you must fix them before the first freeze. Whatever the material of your pipes, freezing water causes pressure that can make them crack. The tiniest cracks might create water damage or cause water to flood into your house.

When plunging a drain to attempt to remove a blockage, first make sure that the drain is completely covered in water. This helps to form a seal. Then, plunge at least fifteen to twenty times before stopping. Repeat the process two to three times. If this doesn't work, try a chemical drain cleaner.

Isn't doing your own plumbing a lot of fun? As you have seen in this article, there are a lot of ways this can be done and no two techniques or equipemnt will yield the same results. There are also lots of customizable options that can work with your home and budget.

How to get a decent plumber without going round the U-bend

Finding the valves

You can also search for reputable tradesmen in England and Wales via the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) and in Scotland and Northern Ireland through SNIPEF.

John Thompson, the chief executive of the APHC, says there really is no need to stick with the first available plumber that you stumble on.

"If you feel pressurised into accepting work without a full explanation, have the confidence to question or get a second opinion. Also check if the tradesmen has the right credentials to work on your appliances," he says.

Mind you, if water is pouring, or even just dripping from the ceiling, you will need to try and isolate the problems to minimise damage before the plumber arrives.

For major leaks, turn off the water supply at the main stop tap, usually in the kitchen. You might need to resort to turning off the water company tap at the boundary of the property. Older ones may also turn off your neighbour's supply.

Smaller internal leaks can be stopped using local isolation valves - usually next to the appliance or tap concerned. These may be less familiar to older consumers as they take the form of levers or are just turned with a screwdriver.

On a combi boiler the isolation valve will be located underneath the boiler.

Ian Ruddick

Image caption,

Turning the thermostat up too suddenly can push your boiler over the edge, says Ian Puddick

Lagging

Ian Puddick is the founder of the London Boiler Company. His team is well used to being called out to replace worn out boilers which give up the ghost when they are pushed too hard.

"What happens is that all of a sudden people turn the thermostat up, but this pushes your boiler over the edge," he says.

"Also where you have tanks in the loft, check the little one to see that it's full of water. These can work with little in them for years, but when you turn the temperature up it drives the system a bit harder and then it stops."

Mr Puddick also has a helpful tip for avoiding a big freeze in your loft.

"Once you have checked all your pipes and tanks are lagged, protected and covered, check underneath the water tank. If there's some insulation there just pull it out and leave that area clear so heat can rise and protect the tank."

Emergency repairs are costly. So to avoid being fleeced by an opportunist plumber, it's worth getting your pipes and systems checked and serviced by a reputable engineer before temperatures drop once again.