Helpful Plumbing Hints & Short-Cuts Every Homeowner Needs to Know

By: Adrianna Notton

Americans dream of owning their own house some day. Finally entering the house which they can call a home is one of the greatest moments in an individual's life. But, many people forget to include upkeep and home maintenance costs in their budget when buying a home. A clogged toilet or broken pipes are common problems of every household. It is very easy to learn plumbing techniques and how to fix common problems without the help of a professional. This way, a significant amount of money can be saved. Here are some tricks on how to fix the pipes without hiring a plumber.

Identify your Pipes - One should be familiar with differences in pipe materials. Local code requirements can limit which type of pipes one can use. For example, a ridged copper pipe is used for the main water line and this pipe cannot be bent. When this type of pipe is used, joints have to be brazed on.

Proper Way to Solder - Clean the pipe and make it shiny prior to soldering. Use a common emery cloth to clean the pipe. It is recommended to heat the fitting and never the pipe. This way, the solder will be drawn into the fitting through capillary action, which will establish a firm joint.

Leakage Fixing - If a copper pipe leaks, the simplest way to fix it is to use a union or a coupler. A union is a portion of pipe and it is bigger than the pipe it is fixed on. Water supply should be turned off, after which all the water from the pipe needs to be drained. Cut out the pipe on the section where it leaks and connect two ends using the union. Often, the condensation build-up around the bottom of a toilet can be confused with a toilet leak. To determine if there is an actual leak, add food coloring to the basin.

Blocked Drains - If sinks, showers or toilets drain slowly, it is usually caused by the build-up of sludge. Most people try to fix this with chemicals and plunging, but in many cases, it won't solve the problem. There is a simple tool called a snake, which is perfect for this. Basically, it is a long metal wire which is flexible and can be forced through the plumbing system to get rid of clogs.

"Loud" Pipes - After flushing the toilet, pipes can sometimes make an unpleasant clanging or hammering noise. A pressure build-up can cause this problem. The simplest way to get rid of the noise is by turning down the water pressure at the stop valve.

Frozen Pipes - This is certainly the biggest concern in any household located in the area with cold climate. If the house is going to be empty for a longer period of time, it's wise to turn off and drain the complete system. If the pipes get frozen, they could break during thawing. To avoid this, apply bottles of hot water around the pipe or try thawing them with a hair dryer slowly.

Plumbing problems are the most common problems homeowners are faced with. A hired plumber can charge a lot to fix even a simple breakdown. With the help of a few tips and tricks, one could easily save hundreds of dollars per year.