10 Easy Plumbing Tips Everyone Should Know

Here are 10 easy plumbing tips everyone should know.

More than likely, you’ll have to deal with minor plumbing issues here and there throughout your home. Instead of spending a ton of money to have a plumber come fix these simple issues, read along with me as we discuss some of the most common plumbing issues at home and the simple solutions to all of them. 

Know the Location of Shut-Off Valves 

A great plumbing tip is to know where the shut-off valves are in your home. This can be very important in case you find yourself in a situation where the water suddenly needs to be shut off. The main shut-off valve is the most important. This way, you know exactly where to shut off the water to the entire house in case of an emergency. 

Be Careful to Not Puncture Pipes

Here is another great plumbing tip. This can be a big one when it comes to saving yourself from unintentional damage. Be careful when going to drill holes in the wall to hang things up in your home. If you accidentally puncture a pipe, it can cause major water damage and even mold on the inside of your walls. This is an expense that you will not want to have to deal with. 

Don’t Put Extra Food Waste Down the Drain 

Believe it or not, a lot of what we use to cook with and even eat on our plates should not be sent down the drain. Foods like coffee grounds, bacon grease, and potatoes are all things that should not be going down your drain. These can clog your drain completely. You’ll thank us later for this plumbing tip. 

Only Two Things Are Flushable

This plumbing tip is so important! You shouldn’t be using your toilet as an easy access trash can. You should only be flushing two things. Toilet paper and human waste. That’s it! Your pipes are not meant to handle a bunch of product or other material that you’re flushing down there. This is what causes backups and drain clogs. Save yourself from disaster and stick to the basics. 

Use a Wet-Dry Vacuum 

This can come in handy in more ways than you probably know about. Say your kid gets a small toy lodged in the drain. You have a good chance of getting that small toy out by sucking it out with the vacuum. A plunger will not be your friend in this situation because it will only push it further into the drain. A plumbing tip that allows you to work smarter, not harder!

Invest in Quality Plungers

Did you know that there is actually a difference between a plunger for your toilet versus your sink? It would be a smart decision to invest in a plunger for each. Having the right tools on hand when they’re needed can lead to an easier solution to the problem at hand. Easiest plumbing tip ever!

Don’t Ignore a Leak 

A leak is essentially money going right down the drain. Although a leak typically drips at a very slow pace, over an extended amount of time, this will cost you a lot of money. A leaky faucet can waste roughly 8 gallons of water per day whereas a toilet can waste up to 200 gallons.

Routinely Check for Leaks

Make it a part of your household maintenance to check for leaks. A lot of the time, if we’re not specifically looking for leaks, we don’t know it’s there. Once we do realize it, it’s usually too late and you now have water damage to tend to. Let’s try to avoid this issue by getting into the habit of checking for leaks during the end of every season. It will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. 

Don’t Tighten Too Much!

Over-tightening fittings and connections in your plumbing can cause you more issues in the long run. To avoid broken bolts and stripped screws, make sure it’s tight, but be careful to not over-tighten. 

Plumber’s Tape is Your Friend 

Plumber’s tape is commonly used for many household plumbing projects. Its main purpose is to prevent leaks around fittings and joints. Without it, you’d probably end up with leaks more often. Plumber’s tape is also called Teflon tape.

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, these 10 plumbing tips can be extremely helpful to anyone that doesn’t know much about plumbing, but wants to know the basics for the safety of their home. 

Call 1-Tom-Plumber 

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need any help with plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.