The Most Common Plumbing Questions Answered
That feeling when something happens in your toilet and you have tried to figure it out but couldn’t – it’s frustrating! Especially when you know that it’s so minor to even bother calling a plumber. It is a good idea to educate yourself a bit on the usual problems that we face at home to save you from anxieties and extra costs for hiring a plumber. Here are the top 5 common plumbing questions and how to avoid or fix them on your own.
Why do drains get clogged?
Drains get clogged for plenty of reasons but are usually caused by our own actions. If we are not too careful with what we put in our sinks, chances are, disposals and other debris clog our pipes. Grease and oil also clog our drains. In toilets, the usual suspects are tissue papers, wipes, sanitary napkins and diapers. So instead of thinking of draining garbage and other disposals, place a trash bin nearby and eliminate the habit of making a shortcut through your drains.
Are chemicals safe to use for cleaning and clearing out the drain, as advertised?
The answer is no. Drain cleaners that promise to unclog and clean your drains in no time contain high levels of toxic that may damage your pipes. Check the label and you will notice warning labels on toxicity. Aside from damaging your pipes, it is not also safe to be kept inside your home because these can cause health hazards. And if you have small children at home, you’d better think of disposing those in the trash bin before it gets into their mouths.
A great alternative is hot water. It melts away grime and grease naturally. And if it’s not enough, use a hand plunger to vacuum the drain. Another option is to use a plumbing snake. Use this to push the stuck debris out into the pipes.
Why does the toilet continuously run after I flush?
This might mean that the handle got stuck and caused the flapper to open. When this happens, water will flow continuously into the bowl. You may temporarily turn off the water valve under your toilet to stop the continuous flow of water, or close manually close the flap and call for a plumber to fix the issue.
Is there a difference between hard water and soft?
Yes. If you have experienced damage to your clothes from laundry, pipe scaling, skin problems or taste and smell something undesirable, this is caused by hard water. You may find all traces of elements and dissolved minerals in hard water that may also be damaging your health and well-being. It is a common cause of corrosion and scaling in your water and drainage system. Soft water on the other hand is like rain water. It is treated water where the only ion is sodium. It’s safer, gentler, but more often than not, saltier, making it unsuitable for drinking.
Why do faucets leak over time?
As water continuously flows in your faucet, the gasket, O-ring, or valve eventually corrodes and causes your faucet to leak. This is normally easy to fix as these parts may be bought and replaced. If you feel like you’re the hottest home plumber Melbourne has ever had, you can repair them on your own using a few tools, but if you are not confident enough, call your plumber to do the work for you.
Before you press that panic button the next time around, check out these common plumbing questions. They might save you a bundle.
