Every homeowner experiences the occasional leaky faucet, clogged toilet, or backed-up sink drain. And while you might be inclined to call a licensed plumber to get the problem resolved, that isn’t always necessary. By familiarizing yourself with these basic plumbing tips, you can easily save some money – all it takes are a few tools and a little DIY know-how.

Note location of shut-off valves.

Shutting off your home’s main water supply in a pinch can mean the difference between a minor water spill – from a burst pipe or leaking water heater, for example – and an in-home swimming pool that can cost you dearly to remove the water and repair the damage.

Locate pipes before drilling.

Planning to drill holes into floors, ceilings, or walls? Make sure there are no plumbing pipes behind or under them; otherwise, you risk puncturing them.

Flush what’s truly flushable.

Never use your toilet as a waste basket, and don’t flush so-called “flushable wipes”, either – they can do a number on your plumbing system and cause quite a back-up.

Take care with the drain.

Don’t pour FOG (fat, oil, grease) down a sink drain or garbage disposal as they will eventually coat the inside of your pipes and cause a tough-to-remove clog.

Right plunger for the job.

Not all plungers are created equal. Invest in a high-quality plunger dedicated to toilets and a sink plunger or two for those tough sink clogs.

Bring up the reserves.

When trying to dislodge a toilet or sink clog caused by a child’s toy or any other small, hard object, use a wet-dry vac vs. a plunger to suck the item out instead of pushing it deeper into the drain.

Don’t over-tighten fittings and connections.

This can lead to stripped screws and broken bolts. As they say: “hand tight is just right.”

Keep plumber’s tape on hand.

No, we don’t mean to stop a leak in progress. Instead, use plumber’s tape to prevent leaks around joints and fittings by wrapping it around the pipe thread three times before sealing.

A little knowledge and skill can do wonders to keep your plumbing running problem-free. Still, there will be times when it will take an experienced plumbing company to get the job done. If that time is now, contact PC Plumbing, Heating, AC & Remodeling for fast and effective service.