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Insights From a Carpentersville Plumber: Seven Useful Plumbing Tips for Beginners
The plumbing system is different for every household, and it is often the most overlooked aspect of home maintenance until something catastrophic happens that demands your attention.
It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that the plumbing system of your Carpentersville home is healthy and in good working condition. This will avoid any sudden issues such as low water pressure, clogged pipes, leaks, and dripping faucets.
In this post, we’ll discuss 7 plumbing tips to make you a more knowledgeable Carpentersville homeowner:
1. Position of the Main Shut-off Valve
If you have recently purchased a new house, ensure that you ask for the exact location of the primary shut-off valve. Often times, the shut-off valve is located outside the house. In case there is a major leak in the house, the fastest and safest action that you can take before calling the plumber is to close the main shut-off valve. Taking this prompt action can instantly stop the leak and prevent any further property damage.
2. Avoid Garbage Disposal in the Drain
It’s important that you read the manufacturer’s manual to understand what type of food waste your garbage disposal can handle. As a general rule of thumb, avoid thick vegetable peelings that could clog pipes, and starchy or greasy foods that could gradually build up a residue on the inner layer of pipes.
3. Pay Attention to Leaks
If you are constantly hearing a dripping sound from a faucet or a fixture, do not ignore it. Not only is it going to increase your water bill, but if left unattended, it could also become an expensive problem to fix.
4. Don’t Over-tighten Connections and Fittings
An adage often used as a plumbing tip is “hand-tight is just right.” If you over tighten connections and fittings, it could lead to stripped screws or broken bolts.
5. Learn to Use Plumber’s Tape
Plumber’s tape (or Teflon Tape) is used to seal the threads of pipes to prevent leaks around fittings and joints. It is generally available in two colors; white and yellow. White is often used for household plumbing work, whereas yellow is often used for gas line connections.
6. Make Use of a Plunger or Vacuum
A plunger always comes in handy anytime you plan to clean the kitchen sink. Use the toilet plunger to give the drain a few plunges before removing the grease trap. This helps in pushing and flushing the mess and dirt gathered inside it before you pull out the trap.
A vacuum works quite the opposite of the plunger. It uses suction to effectively bring out any objects and debris stuck in the drain. So, if you are trying to remove a clog caused by a hard object such as a comb, toothbrush, or cooking utensil, it’s best to use a wet-dry vacuum to suck the object out.
7. Run a Test for Leaks
It is important to run a check for leaks after any plumbing work is completed. First, run water through the system and observe critical points where valves and drains are closed and opened. If you find a small drip, you may need to reseal a connection.
Are You in Need of a Licensed Plumbing Contractor in Carpentersville?
Have you encountered a few clogs or a leak in your plumbing system? Do you need old pipes replaced or new plumbing installed? In either case, you need a qualified Carpentersville plumber.
Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has the answers to meet all your requirements. We have a team of licensed and highly skilled plumbers who can get your plumbing system repaired, serviced, and functional as per your expectations.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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