Follow
These Tips To Keep Your Plumbing System Clog Free
> Don't
pour your greasy waste down the sink, but if you do;
> Don't follow with warm water, as this will melt the grease
allowing
it to coat the drainage pipes
> Don't throw stringy fibrous material into the disposal.
The disposal
does not grind these adequately.
> Turn on the cold water at least 15 seconds before you turn
on the
disposal, and keep it running briefly afterward. This helps flush
waste down the main line.
> Make sure the disposal is running when you place food
debris
into it. Don't wait until it's full to turn it on.
> You can turn the temerature up on your water heater a bit to
provide more hot water but do not go above 125 degrees F to avoid
burns and scalding.
> Don't use your toilets as a waste basket. Cotton balls,
Q-Tips, hair,
facial scrubs, and femine hygiene products do not dissolve and may
clog your drains.
> Give
low-flush toilets an extra flush every now and then to assist
with proper draining of waste materials.
1. Learn how to shut off the water supply to your home or
individual fixture. When you have a leak, this may be crucial.
The water main is the pipe which allows water to come into your house.
It is usually located on a basement wall or crawl space near the front
outside faucet, and the shut off valve is connected to this pipe. Turn
the valve handle clockwise to shut off all the water in the house.
Each sink and toilet usually has its own shut off valve. Look
underneath the sink to find the hot and cold water supply pipes. The
water can be shut off here without interrupting the supply to the rest
of the home.
2. Keep kitchen drains from clogging by:
a. Not disposing of grease in the drain.
b. Pouring a gallon of boiling water down the sink once a week.
c. Grinding food in the disposal for two full minutes with plenty of
fast running cool water.
3. If water pressure is low in kitchen or lavatory
faucet, remove aerator with a set of small pliers, eliminate the
debris in aerator, and then reinstall aerator.
4. When your water heater leaks water, shut
off the valve on the top of the heater and drain with a garden hose
from the drain at the bottom of the heater. Turn gas valve to the off
position.
5. If you have a constantly leaking faucet,
it usually has a shut off valve underneath the sink so you can stop the
water supply to that faucet, without shutting off service to the rest
of the house.
6. If there is a serious leak in the water service
outside the house, the water must be shut off at the meter. Most
homeowners do not have the tools to turn off the meter. Call your local
water department to shut off your water, and then call a qualified
plumber.
7. If water backs up in your tub or toilet,
stop using all water until the stoppage can be cleared by a
professional. This type of problem indicates a main sewer stoppage.
