Kansas City plumber, Steve Snedger with Amen Plumbing on Zaarly wants people to be able to feel comfortable fixing simple plumbing issues on their own. “I’ve talked through how to fix something with some clients over the phone, or sometimes will go over and give them a step-by-step lesson on how to tackle something on their own the next time. There are a lot of things that most people could do on their own, with a little confidence.”
Steve shares 10 tips to help you save time and money:
- Flushable wipes are not flushable! This goes for baby wipes as well. They are going to cause problems down the road. Throw any kind of wipe out with the trash.
- Dry rice is the worst thing people can stick down their disposal. It starts to swell and can actually break cast iron pipes and concrete!
- Enzyme cleaners are safer than other cleaners. Steve’s top recommendations include:
- If your drain isn’t draining, harsh chemicals are not going to work, that’s when it’s time to call a plumber.
- When things start to slow down, that is the time to fix it. If you wait, you will have a bigger problem on your hands. If people call while things are still draining the issue will be a lot easier and faster to fix.
- Sharpen your garbage disposal blades. Organic matter that is not broken down due to dull garbage disposal blades can cause clogs. Keep your blades sharp by running a bit of ice through the garbage disposal once or twice a month.
- Pressure your disposal into unclogging. If your disposal is clogged, try using pressure to your advantage. Put the plastic plug cover from the disposal side over the drain on the sink side and let it fill with water, then turn on the disposal, creating turbulence that often dislodges the clog.
- Show your toilet’s true colors. Find out if the toilet tank is leaking into the bowl by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank when it’s not flushing. If the water in the bowl changes color, you’ll probably need to replace the fill valve – a simple, cheap fix.
- Save your pipes and the environment. When you get a bad clog in your bathroom sink or shower, don’t bother with expensive liquid plumbing gel. Often, it clears the clog just enough to drain and then sits, corroding your pipes. Instead, use an EPA-approved, all-natural bacteria/enzyme solution (one example is Bio-Clean) each month, which eats away organic material to stop clogs before they start, and doesn’t harm your pipes.
- Check your water pressure: If your water pressure is high, your pipes, valves and washers may be under a lot of stress. Stress over time can cause expensive leaks and bursts. A water pressure regulating valve is all you need to control the pressure and save your plumbing.
Following these tips can save you a lot of time and money down the road. Have a question about a plumbing issue? Steve can help!
Kansas City Mom Blog readers new to Zaarly can get $25 off any service by using the code KCMB in the promo field. Valid for new customers only.
