3. Stop an Overflowing Toilet in Its Tracks
Is there anything more hair-raising than watching the water level slowly rise in the toilet bowl? If you think it might overflow, open the tank and push the flush valve down. This will stop the water and buy you time to address the issue.
4. Clear a Blocked Toilet with Soap
Don’t have a plunger? You don’t need one to clear a blocked toilet. You can often clear the blockage by adding hot water and soap to the bowl. Get the water as hot as you can out of the tap, and add as much as you can to the bowl until it’s full. Add liquid soap, and don’t be shy — you can’t add too much. The hot water will help break down the clog and the soap will help it get moving again.
5. Clean Showerheads with Vinegar
Over time, shower heads get clogged with mineral deposits. This can make them less effective or even completely block them up. To clear the mineral deposits, unscrew the showerheads and soak them in vinegar for 24 hours. If that doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to replace the showerhead.
6. Flush Your Water Heater
Mineral sediments can accumulate in the bottom of your water heater, so you need to flush it once a year or so. Doing so will help it last a lot longer. If it needs to be flushed badly, it’ll start to make banging sounds. That’s the water bubbling up through a thick layer of sediment on the bottom of the tank. If not flushed regularly, sediment build-up can cause the tank to rust out.
7. Install Mesh Drain Covers
Hair, chips of soap and other debris cause clogs when they fall into your drains. Mesh drain covers in your sinks, shower and bath can save you the trouble of having to snake your drains regularly.
8. Inspect for Leaks Regularly
Leaky faucets and running toilets can cost you hundreds in water bills. Fixing them is usually easy and can save you a lot of money. Stay diligent about repairing them. Regularly inspect any exposed pipes in your home for signs of damage or decay. Rust, warping and drops of water on the outside of the pipes all indicate a problem that a qualified plumber should address.
Nicholas Lepinski from Ramsey New Jersey is a competent, safety conscience and polite licensed plumber, who is committed to his trade, profession and his customers.