Simple Plumbing Tips to Save You Money

Experience tells us that hiring a plumber is going to hit your check book in the gut. Sometimes you can't avoid the help of the plumber as the plumbing job is just too difficult to manage. Most of the time, though, you can fix the plumbing yourself if you are knowledgeable. Try these tips when your drain is clogged and you might not need to call the plumber.

Plumbing involves water and water can suddenly spew all over your house when you are fiddling with the plumbing. So verify that you know where the main shut off valve is located in case you spring a leak. Also figure out where the shut off valve is on the pipes you are currently working on.

Kitchen drains tend to clog up due to a buildup of grease over time. One way to fix the issue is dump hot grease down the drain. It will cause the hardened grease to liquify and move down the pipes. If pouring grease does not do the trick then you might have something blocking the drain.

Begin with the basics by examining the drain for minor blockages like food. Remove the sink stopper and strainer to give them a thorough cleaning. Check to see if quickly cleaning these materials fixes the problem. If not, you will need to work with stronger plumbing tools like snakes and plungers.

In all honesty, a snake is generally the best way to deal with a blocked drain. A snake is little more than a long piece of thin corrugated pipe that is wound up inside of a hand-held device that extends and retracts the pipe.

Using the snake is as easy as sticking the end into the drain a couple inches. Turn the handle to change the direction of the snake head. This will allow you to catch whatever is blocking the drain. Keep proceeding down the drain until you find a blockage. Repeat this process by turning the handle until you find the culprit.

But, there are times when a snake may not be able to do the job and you need to resort to the snake or perhaps some chemical drain cleaner. It is recommended that you start with the plunger as you cannot use a plunger after putting chemical drain opener in the drain because it may splash up and get you in the eyes when plunging.

When plunging the drain it is crucial that water covers the drain. This will help you to have a good seal to aid with the plunging action. Make sure to place a cover or seal over any drain vents or other sink drains. Plung 15-20 times in a row before stopping and removing the plunger. If the sink still will not drain then repeat this process another 2-3 imes. Use the chemical drain cleaner next. If all of this doesn't work then you will have to get out your phone book and call a professional plumber.

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About the author: Dwight Nga writes exclusively for For Plumbing, visit there today for the latest Plumbing advice, and their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too. Read many more interesting articles on Plumbing at: www.forplumbing.com/articles
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