Whether you are a handy homemaker, or you prefer that someone else step in and help, there are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with plumbing needs in your home. Here are a few of our quick plumbing tips.
Plumbing Tips:
1. In need of a plumber, but short on recommendations? Call a fixture or plumbing supply store. These businesses see many plumbers and can typically weed out the bad ones from the pack. They’ll know who would be best suited for a job, and will most likely have that person’s contact information nearby.
2. Monday is usually the busiest day. The weekend warriors (and their spouses) call early on Monday morning, eager to have their do it yourself work cleaned up or reworked. If you have work that needs to be handled, and its not an emergency, try setting up on another day of the week. This ensures that your plumber is less likely to have to reschedule the appointment, and they probably won’t be as worried about balancing their schedule.
3. Washing Machine Hoses break all the time. The stainless steel hoses tend to have substantially fewer problems, so we always recommend using them. Rubber hoses can reveal holes and deficiencies in the connectors over time, whereas stainless steel maintains better over time.
4. Be careful about products labeled “flushable”. Baby wipes most often claim to be flushable, but are slower to break down when compared to traditional toilet paper. They don’t disintegrate instantly, so be careful about flushing them.
5. Small, quick repairs can be done without a professional’s help. If you have to jiggle the toilet handle regularly, for example, there’s no need to call a professional just yet. An inexpensive replacement flap can remedy the issue (and make you look like a pro!). Use resources like Home Depot’s staff to know when a job is within your comfort zone.
6. Know where the shut-off valves are, before you try anything. If you are replacing a simple fixture or maybe even working on pipes directly, make sure that you know where the shut-off valve is located. Test that it works, too, to verify that you have the right controls.