There are some reasons you need to call a plumber, but there are some things you can do at home to prevent serious issues. Follow the tips below, but if you come across something you can’t handle, be sure to call a professional to avoid damaging your home.
1. Toilet Issues
- If you see bubbles coming up from your toilet, it’s an indication that you have a clog lower down in your pipes.
- You can try your plunger, but you might need to step up your efforts. You can get a toilet auger to help unblock clogs.
- If you have little kids, you might want to childproof your lid. Little kids like to stick things into the toilet because they get curious about where everything goes. This leads to numerous clogs.
- Boiling hot water and pouring into your toilet can help to clear tough clogs fast. Do this daily if you notice little bubbles coming up in your bowl.
- Some clogs are just too tough to handle. You might have roots interfering in your pipes. If you have a soggy area of your yard, this is an indication you have a leak in your pipes. Oleanders and poplar trees are notorious for interfering with pipes. It would be wise to contact a company like Express rooter to handle this issue.
2. Smelly Drain
- Before you reach for harsh chemicals, try out natural methods for cleaning out your drain.
- To clean and help to keep your drain clear, pour baking soda directly into your drain, and mix in vinegar. It will foam, but it’ll help to break up residue in your drain.
- A little unknown tip you can use is to put ice in your drain and turn on the disposal. The ice will help to scrape off gunk in your drain. It melts so you don’t have to worry about anything being left behind.
3. Frozen Pipes
- You’ll want to insulate any pipes that are susceptible to freezing; however, be sure that you don’t insulate your pipes from warmth. This is a common mistake.
- Do not leave your hose attached outside when you have freezing weather.
- Let your outdoor faucets drip to avoid your pipes from freezing.
- If you happen to get a frozen pipe, be sure that your pipes aren’t damaged. If they are, you will need to turn off your water.
4. Toilet Replacement
- You can replace your toilet, but there are some things you’ll need to keep in mind.
- Use brass bolts.
- Ensure that your floor is level and that you have the right flange. You don’t want your toilet to move around.
- Each time you remove your toilet, you need to get a new wax ring. When you have installed your toilet, sit down on it to make sure the ring is secure and will prevent any possible leaks.
5. Clogged Drain
- A clogged drain is bad. If you notice your toilet, sink and bathtub are clogged, do not attempt to shower in there because you will be standing in septic water.
- If your bathtub is clogged, and you don’t have an issue with any other part of your bathroom, you might just have an issue with hair. You can use a bent wire to pull out hair and other debris.
- Bathtub drains can be more stubborn than a sink clog. If you can’t clear your clog easily, you might need to get drain cleaner to clear your clog.
- Use a mesh drain strainer to prevent hair from going into the drain.