The average household wastes a bunch of water and money due to leaks every year. If you’re starting to hear a steady drip, drip, drip somewhere in your home, you might need help from contractors.
Unfortunately, certain types of plumbing issues can get expensive fast. Instead of calling for the best plumbing services in Atlanta from the get-go, check out these tips first. With these six tips, you can start saving money on plumbing before calling in the experts.
Grab your plunger and get ready for a little DIY. Keep reading to learn how to save money on plumbing repairs with these tips.
1. Fix the Little Things
The first step to saving money on plumbing is to confront small problems before they become big ones. You might feel the need to ignore issues to save money. However, letting a small problem develop can cause a major leak or even flooding.
Take the time to research different types of plumbing issues online. You might find you’re capable of handling many of these issues on your own.
To make sure you don’t cause any additional damages, take the time to watch a tutorial video online before you start repairs. Watch the video completely at least once before you get started. Otherwise, you might miss a crucial step that leads to costly damages.
You can also speak with the employees at your local hardware store for help.
For more ways to save money, speak with your neighbors. See if they have any experience fixing minor plumbing issues. If they don’t, see if you can borrow the tools you need.
That way, you can save money and get a little help developing your DIY plumbing skill set.
2. Find Your Shut-off Valve
In many plumbing emergencies, you need to make shutting off water in your first step. Many homeowners end up calling professional plumbers about flooding or burst pipes. Knowing how to find your main water shut-off valve is essential to saving you time and money.
Make sure you know the main water shut-off valve’s location before an emergency strikes. That way, you know exactly where to go in the case of an emergency. Otherwise, you could lose valuable time searching for it.
Next, learn how to operate the valve properly. Turn the valve clockwise. If you need a trick to remember, it’s righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.
If an emergency occurs, shut off the water as soon as possible. Then, try to dry the water as soon as possible. That way, a professional can work without the mess slowing them down.
3. Take Preventative Measures
Almost half of all homeowners claim losses caused by water damage. Plumbing leaks can damage your walls, ceilings, or flooring throughout your home. There are a few ways you can avoid different types of plumbing issues before they occur.
First, it’s important to know you should only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Any other items could cause clogs, requiring you to need help from contractors. In order to avoid those service calls, don’t flush:
- Wipes
- Sanitary supplies
- Cat litter
- Hair
- Cigarette butts
- Bleach
These items can damage your pipes and lead to additional plumbing issues.
You can also start saving money on plumbing by covering your drains. The hair on your head can lead to a costly clog. To avoid clogs, use a mesh screen to catch loose strains.
If you use these strainers, make sure to clean them weekly to prevent buildup, which could impact water flow.
Dumping cooking grease down your kitchen sink can cause problems, too. Following the grease with dish soap and hot water doesn’t prevent grease from clogging your pipes. In fact, it could impact the entire neighborhood’s sewage system.
Instead, make sure to dispose of your crease using a sealable container. Then, wipe down your pots and pans before you wash them in the sink.
4. Clean Unused Drains
Do you have bathrooms within your home that you don’t use often? Maybe there’s a drain in your basement or laundry room you leave unused. Unfortunately, leaving these drains unattended too often can cause a bad smell.
The water left within the traps will evaporate over time. As a result, the seal that keeps the sewer odors from your home fades. You can use bathroom cleaners or liquid draining products, but they will only prevent the odors from permeating temporarily.
To avoid this issue, try pouring a cup of vinegar and a quarter cup of baking soda down the drain. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then, rinse it using hot water for about three minutes.
Once you refill the drain traps with water, add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil down the drain. The oil will float above the water, keeping the water from evaporating too quickly.
You can repeat this process every few months to keep your drains from smelling foul.
5. Snake It
In some cases, flushing small items, hair, and grease cause your plumbing to clog. In other cases, however, tree roots or collapsing pipes are to blame. You might need help from contractors who can check on drains throughout your home to avoid this problem.
A plumbing professional can use a special camera to determine the source of the problem.
To save money on plumbing, consider using an auger that snakes the clog from your drain.
6. Keep Pipes From Bursting
As temperatures start to cool, it’s important to keep your pipes from cracking and bursting. To avoid this issue, insulate your exposed pipes. Leave the cabinets under your sinks open to let warm air circulate inside.
You can also always call us at Assured Comfort. We handle jobs all over Atlanta!