Plumbing Hacks To Get You Through The Holidays
Having a house-full this holiday season? Don't get stuck with faulty plumbing when guests come to call; make sure that you keep the contact information of your favorite plumber handy and use these hacks to survive until help arrives. Keep a few basic plumbing supplies on hand to ensure you are never caught without the right tools for the job.
Some hacks that will restore your plumbing and get you through the holiday include:
Fix the toilet. If you hit the flush on the toilet and nothing happens, it is possible that the toilet ball chain has become detached from the flushing mechanism. Lift the tank lid and check it out. The chain should slip back on, but if it is rusty or damaged, you may need to replace it and reattach it to the ball and the flushing-mechanism inside the toilet tank. Do yourself a favor by picking up an inexpensive toilet tank kit at a hardware or plumbing supply store for just such an emergency.
Turn off the water. The longer a leak, burst pipe, or flooding goes on, the more damage it will cause. Learn how to turn off the main water supply with a T-bar to curb damage and give you some time to assess the situation before proceeding. The main valve is usually located close to the curb for town water supplies and on the side of the home for those with well-water.
Restore a stuck disposal. It is easy for a garbage disposal to clog and become stuck from congealed food grease. Try running hot water for a bit to melt the grease and get things moving. If the disposal is acting sluggish, try processing a handful of ice cubes. This often will dislodge whatever is causing the issue; follow this up by running hot water down the disposal to help flush away the problem.
Clear a clog. The best time to treat a clog in a drain is before it becomes a problem; start heating water to pour down the sinks and tub of the house. This will help to melt the sludge that can form on the sides of the pipes and that create a clogged mess. If you have a plumbing snake on hand, it is easy to find and remove any incidental clog without the assistance of a plumber.
Don't let a toilet conundrum or a clogged sink impede your holiday fun. Use these hacks to survive any plumbing emergency until help arrives. For more information, contact local professionals like Withamsville Winnelson.