Jacksonville Ideas For Your Home Plumbing

Plumbing projects can get messy from time to time. Whether you are upgrading an appliance or fixture, installing new plumbing, or repairing old plumbing, it is important that you research what your options are and prepare for a plumber. If you are in need of a repair there are tricks to solving the problem without having to call in a plumber. And if you do have to call in a plumber it is important that you carefully select one.

Plumbing consists of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas in your house. Some of the most common and not so common types of plumbing appliances and fixtures include lavatory sinks, pedestal sinks, utility sinks, a shower/bath, a toilet, a whirlpool, a steam shower, a tankless water heater, solar water heaters and a septic tank. In addition to these fixtures and appliances, you may want to consider the following ideas for your next plumbing project:

Freeze protection for your pipes.
Insulated pipes.
Insulated water heater.
A circulating hot water pump.

Often times a plumbing problem arises in your home, such as a drain problem, a leaky faucet, or a faulty fixture that needs replacement. Many homeowners instinctually call a plumber before taking the time to think about the ways in which the problem could be solved without spending so much money. For example, if you have been wasting money on an annual drain-clearing procedure then you may want to stop for a second and think about what the cause of the problem is. Simple cost effective solutions can be used on almost all plumbing issues. Make sure to review the problem, search for the cause and try attacking the source on your own before calling in an expensive plumber.

In addition, you may be able to save yourself some pennies by purchasing your own plumbing fixtures. Often times you end up paying more for a fixture if you purchase one from your plumber. This is mainly because plumbers sell you toilets, sinks, and faucets that they get at a discount and charge you full price for. The rack up in price is meant to cover the costs of dealing with purchases, returns, and storage. Fortunately, home center stores are now charging you prices that are even lower than the contractor prices that plumbers pay their suppliers. It never hurts to shop around at your home center first because you might just catch yourself a deal.

If and when you do decide to hire a plumber, be careful doing so. Hiring a plumber is very similar to purchasing a car. In both situations, it isn’t wise to go to the yellow pages and choose a dealership/plumber at random. You never know what you are going to get that way. It is best to shop around and get at least three price quotes. The best advice to offer when it comes to hiring a plumber is to do your research and find a qualified plumber who can suit your needs the best.

Tips to Avoid Common Jacksonville Pipe Problems

We’ve all heard the horror stories of winter vacationers coming home to a flooded basement! Winter pipe bursts are just one of the many common pipe problems that Jacksonville homeowners may experience. However, many such costly snafus can easily be avoided with a little knowledge and a little bit of regular maintenance. Here are some tips on how you can keep your pipes flowing smoothly.

Toilet Trouble

Too much toilet paper and not enough flushing can easily clog a toilet’s pipes. Of course, flushing foreign objects will also have the same effect! If you have very small children, you’ll need to be extra vigilant when they use the facilities. Teach them the proper amount of toilet paper to use and explain what will happen if they don’t comply. The toilet is for one thing and one thing only: it is not a toy.

Clogs in the Kitchen

Fats are your kitchen pipes’ worst enemy. The curved shape of the pipes under your sink make them especially susceptible to the buildup of fatty materials; if you are cooking in the winter months when outside temperatures are frigid, the problem is compounded. Always use strainers in your sinks and make it a rule to never, ever dispose of cooking grease and oils via the drain. No matter how vigilant you are, however, there will always be a certain amount of greasy soapy residue in the pipes: run hot water for five minutes down the drains periodically, and your pipes should be just fine and your sink back-up free.

Clogs in the Bathtub

Hair and soap will clog up bathtub and sink pipes fairly quickly: the best trick is to prevent their accumulation in the first place. Use a strainer over your bathtub drain, and clean it every time the tub is used. Take the time to pour boiling water down both the sink and tub drains once a month to prevent problems further down in the pipes. Avoid chemical solutions since they can damage pipes.

Bursting Pipes

First, identify which pipes are most likely to freeze: chances are they will be the ones that run along exterior walls on a side of the house that gets little winter sun. Use pipe insulators if possible to avoid freezing, or install electric heating tape. If, for some reason, you cannot reach these pipes, you may wish to leave your sink water dripping on especially cold nights. If you leave on vacation, simply turn off your main water valve.

Many pipe problems can be prevented in the first place if you practice just a little prevention. Serious plumbing problems should be solved by a professional Jacksonvill plumber.