Once you move into a new home for the first time it will soon become apparent that there are a lot of factors which come into play as a homeowner. Being a successful homeowner involves several things, and you will want to learn a skill or two when it comes to looking after your home. Today we are going to talk about how you can learn some handy plumbing skills and maintain the health of the pipework in the home this year.
Whether you are new to the world of plumbing, radiators, and air conditioner maintenance, or you have done your own repairs before, these are some simple plumbing tips to take with you in the home.
Replacing parts of the toilet
When doing plumbing in the house, one of the elements of the home which might be a little bit daunting is the toilet. The toilet is one of those appliances in the house which no one wants to clean and maintain, but it is not as daunting as it may seem. It is important to keep the pipework behind the toilet clean and tidy for the health of the basin, and you can easily replace things such as the flappers with no real effort or worry of damaging anything surrounding it.
Remove Clogs Without Chemicals
One of the biggest mistakes many of us make when we are looking at the pipes in the home is to reach immediately for harsh chemicals which might actually do more harm than good. Not only will the chemicals cost more to buy, but they might not do the job and may instead start to damage the pipes themselves. If you want to maintain healthy pipes for much longer, make sure to use manual methods to clean the pipes and make sure that water can flow.
Unblocking the showerhead
One of the easiest things that you can do when it comes to maintaining a healthy flow of water in the house is to clean out the showerhead. If when using the shower, you start to notice that some of the holes are blocked, you don’t need to spend time pricking each hole with a pin to unblock it. Instead, all you need to do is soak the showerhead in water and bleach for a few hours and then clean out the showerhead by running it.
Use Thread Tape
One of the best tools you can have in your plumbing kits is thread tape. This type of tape is one which is used to seal pipes easily by using a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) to stop water from leaving the pipes. It means that if you notice a leaking pipe in your home, this can be a quick fix for you while you try to find a long term solution for the issue. Not only does it mean that you will be able to save any wet floors, but you will also be able to save money on your water bill!
Loosen tight pipes
When it comes to carrying out routine checks and tasks on your pipes, one of the things which can have a big impact is the stiffness of the pipes when you try to remove them. If you find that you are unable to release the pipes from each other, try wrapping a hot cloth around the pipes for 5-10 minutes and then try again. The heat will cause the pipes to expand and this should loosen it and make it much easier for you to remove and clean.
Get a boiler check
One of the most important things you can do in terms of the plumbing in your home is to make sure that the boiler is in top condition. A boiler is a water tank which resides in the home and will heat water to be used for washing dishes, for showers and baths, and also in radiators to keep the house warm during the winter. Your boiler needs to be checked once a year or so and serviced to make sure it lasts as long as possible because it is used heavily throughout the years and this will have an impact on its longevity. Make sure that you book for service now and again to make sure that the boiler is in top condition. This will impact the whole house and is by far the most important thing to know on this list.
We hope these plumbing tips and tricks made a difference to you today, and make sure that you use these tips to keep your home in top-notch condition.
