Have you tested your handy man skills lately? Whether it was a clogged toilet, loose screw, or maybe you changed a light bulb, you probably had to fix something yourself recently. Calling a professional is always a good idea if you feel out of your element, and certainly the best solution if you have a real plumbing emergency on your hands.
But it never hurts to understand the basics. If you encounter a small issue around the house, it’ll save you time and even money if you can perform the simple repair on your own. Here a few basic insider tips so that you can familiarize yourself with your home’s plumbing.
Know your sewer lines
It’s always good to know where to access your home’s sewer lines. Although you should never try to fix a flooded sewer line, knowing where to locate it will help speed up the repair. But the best option is to prevent a flood in the first place. For reliable preventative cleaning, use a live enzyme cleaner. Basically, you just have to add some to your toilet bowl, and it consumes the debris in your pipes.
Be nice to your garbage disposal
Disposals are great for their convenience, but they can clog easily. Common sense dictates that you shouldn’t toss anything into them that you haven’t diced up first. However, in our experience, you should always avoid putting large quantities of coffee and grains down the drain. They can congeal and make for serious clogging.
Don’t skimp on fixtures
It’s tempting to try and save a little money by buying budget fixtures, but cheap products yield cheap performance. If you spend a little more on, say, a solidly-built, high-efficiency toilet, it’ll last. To make it a good investment, call the best plumber Santa Monica has to offer. Torrance Plumbing and Heating will install the toilet, or whatever fixture you need, quickly and handily. We’ll make it’s built to withstand the test of time.
Locate your water main
In the event of a busted pipe or other plumbing issue resulting in flood, or if you need to turn off the water for repairs, you should know where the water main is located. The main refers to the line that connects your home or apartment complex to the community line. Speaking of complexes, if you live in an apartment or condo, find out if there’s one main line for the building, or individual lines for each unit.
Try home remedies first
Clogged drains are among the most common plumbing problems. It’s easy to reach for the nearest store-bought product to cleanse the pipe, but next time try a home remedy instead. Mixing hot water and baking soda can often unclog a build up of debris in your sink. This way you don’t have to introduce potentially toxic chemicals into your pipes and water. If the clog persists, you can then try stronger chemicals or even call a plumber.