Home-ownership can be a wonderful thing. Fixing up things around the house to make it look nicer can be fun. Eventually, however, there will come a time when every home-owner runs into a plumbing problem. This can be a major headache and a dent in the wallet if the individual has to call a professional to fix the clog or leak. By knowing a few simple tricks, anyone can save money by fixing their own clogged toilets or leaky faucets.

Know Your Pipes – Knowing what type of piping that is used on a home is very important. State building codes can stipulate different type of pipe material for different applications. Rigid copper pipe, for example, is usually used on residential homes. Rigid copper cannot be bent and must be soldered at joints with special tees.

Soldering Techniques – The most common mistake when beginning to solder is not making the inside and outside of the pipe perfectly clean. It should be scrubbed shiny, bright with an emery cloth. Once the ends are cleaned, apply heat only to the fitting. This causes the solder to be sucked into the fitting and makes a more solid joint.

Fixing Leaks – Fixing a leak in a copper pipe is relatively simple. First, turn off the water supply at the main. Then, track down the leak and allow the pipe to drain. Cut around the site of the leak with a tubing cutter. Prepare both pipe ends for soldering and then attach a union to them. The union is simply a larger copper pipe that will fit snugly over the existing one. Often, condensation will be mistaken for a leaky toilet. An easy way to determine whether or not it is a leak is to add food coloring to the basin.

Clogged Drains – A slowly draining sink or shower can be a real annoyance. This is usually due to sludge building up in the plumbing system over time. The only way for a homeowner to deal with this problem short of calling a contractor is to use a snake. This long metal wire is flexible and able to turn the tight corners of pea-traps in drains.

Clanging Or Hammering Pipes – When pipes make a loud hammering noise when the toilet is flushed it is usually caused by pressure building up in the plumbing system. Sometimes the hammering can turn into a loud clanging and is very annoying. By turning down the pressure at the stop-valve a homeowner can stop this from happening.

Frozen Pipes – Only a problem for colder areas of the world, a frozen set of pipes can be a major headache. A homeowner should always remember to turn off and drain the plumbing system of their home when leaving during the winter. There are very few things an individual can do if the pipes do become frozen. They could try placing hot-water bottles around them or thawing them out with a hair-dryer.

With older houses, plumbing problems can be a major issue. With old, sludge filled pipes, clogs and slow draining sinks and showers start to become an issue. Still, with a few tips and tricks anyone can save a little money before calling the contractor.

Author Bio: When in need of a plumbing Toronto services, don\’t delay. Plumbing problems can escalate quickly! If you are unable to reach your local plumber try contacting plumbers Toronto.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: plumber, plumbing, home, repair, houses, life, society, service, shopping, business, legal, family,