Proper Ways To Maintain Your Sinks

Proper Ways to Maintain Your Sinks

All of us have experienced the inconvenience of having a blocked drain or sink and most of us have had to deal with flooded kitchens and/or bathrooms. Sometimes accidents happen even if you don’t do anything wrong, but in most cases, they can be prevented by proper maintenance.

If we know why and how our drains become blocked, we can adjust our actions to prevent that from happening in the first place. Not only will we be able to avoid damage, but we’ll also save the money we would otherwise have to spend on a plumber.

Common Causes

All the sticky substances that we use every day, such as toothpaste, shaving cream or gel, gradually block the drains in our bathrooms. A similar problem is also present in the kitchen, but the causes are grease and oil, which slowly solidify and build up, thus creating a big problem.

What Can You Do About It?

As a matter of fact, there’s quite a lot you can do to prevent such problems. For example, if you have to deal with slow and blocked bathroom drains and sinks, you might want to try pouring one tablespoon of kitchen salt into the drain, after which you need to pour a quarter of a cup of white vinegar. Wait for at least one hour before you use hot water to flush the loosened substances. If you believe you haven’t completely solved the problem, repeat the whole process.

Keep Your Sinks Well-Maintained

If you want your sinks to work flawlessly, make sure you pour a little bleach every now and then into the sink and wait for an hour or two before running water down the drain. This will clear the drains of any hardened substances that might have blocked your drains. However, if even after you’ve done everything you could, you still see that the water is draining very slowly or not at all, you should immediately contact professionals, such as these Sydney-based blocked sink specialists.

Grease In Your Kitchen Sink

When dealing with grease that remained in your sink drain, you should try using a regular liquid dish detergent and lots of boiling water. First, you pour detergent generously and then pour boiling water, but gradually. The detergent should melt the grease deposits and the water should help them be flushed away down the drain. It often takes more than one attempt before you achieve the result you desire.

Hot Water Helps

Even letting hot water run helps your sinks and drains remain clear and clean. Let some very hot water run at least once a week in the kitchen and bathroom. It will help melt and flush away grease deposits before they build up and solidify so much that you need to use more aggressive methods or call an expert.

Cold Water Helps, Too

If you have a garbage disposal, you should run cold water down the drain, rather than hot, since the former will help the deposits solidify, which, in turn, means they will be broken up more easily.

As you can see, there are quite a few things that you can do to maintain your sinks properly and avoid flooding or having to call a plumber. Also, these tips are quite cheap and don’t require any particular skills, which means everyone can use them.

On the other hand, if you have tried everything you know, but the problem is still present, you need to contact a professional and ask for help, since the problem can only escalate and create more damage.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Plumbing Safety 101

Plumbing Safety 101

Your plumbing needs what seems like a simple repair and you are confident enough to do it yourself? Well, even if you are a person with experience in plumbing, there are some safety tips you should definitely know before reaching out to those plumbing tools.

Here are the basics of plumbing safety you should know:

1.     Regulations: Make sure you check for any specific plumbing regulations and codes of your area before proceeding with the DIY plumbing. Some tasks require a professional to handle them, and other may require a permit.

2.     Wear eye protection. This is essential when doing any job which can potentially harm your eyes. Remember that liquids and objects can fall or fly up into your face while you are working, so wear protection to avoid damage and injuries.

3.     Wear appropriate gloves and boots. Keep your hands and feet safe from injury, harm from chemicals and other potential damage by wearing latex gloves covered with work leather and plumbing work boots like these from Mybootprint.com. Sure, it can cause some difficulties when using certain instruments, but it will ensure that your hands are safe while plumbing.

4.     Lung protection. Remember to wear a face mask to keep your respiratory system and lungs protected from the inhalation of dust and other particles while you are doing your plumbing work.

5.     Take extra precautions. When using a power tool or other instrument, always follow the instructions for use recommended by the manufacturer. Also, be extra careful when dealing with heat or soldering on pipes near flammable insulation, walls and other materials which can easily catch fire.

6.     Get someone to assist. Having an extra pair of hands is always helpful, especially when dealing with bigger and more risky plumbing repairs or projects. Plus, working with a helper will make the job easier and faster.

7.     Take the time to read the labels. Always read the labels on any instruments, products and chemicals you are planning to use for your DIY plumbing job beforehand. Follow the instructions for use and be aware of the measures which need to be taken in case of an accident or emergency situation.

8.     Stay away from plumbing while impaired. Do not attempt any repair work on your plumbing if you are feeling unwell or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Otherwise you are in a higher risk of injuries or of incurring more damage than actual repair of the plumbing.

9.     Use instruments and tools only for what they are intended. Do not try to use a specific tool for a job it is not made to do. This will save you from injury or further damage to the pipes or other items you are trying to fix.

10.  Always adhere to the safety codes which have been set by the regulators for plumbing and building safety.

11.  Never attempt to fix a gas leak by yourself. If you suspect you have a gas leak, immediately turn the gas off, call your gas company and wait for a professional to come deal with the problem.

Author: Mike is an outdoorsman, DIY enthusiast, and the person who manages Mybootprint.com and ShoeMatters.com – sites dedicated to help people find high quality footwear for their needs.

Insurance May Not Cover Cracked Pipes Due To Negligence

Insurance May Not Cover Cracked Pipes Due To Negligence

One of the most common causes of water damage in a home is a cracked or leaking pipe. In some cases, the homeowner can spot the sign of a leak quickly and can easily turn off the main water valve before too much water damage has occurred. The homeowner may even may able to make the plumbing and home repairs on his or her own for minimal cost. However, in other cases, the water may spread quickly or the homeowner may not be at home when the issue develops. Water may be inches or more deep before the homeowner realizes something is wrong. Some instances also can result in mold growth, such as if the homeowner does not quickly address the water issue through remediation. You may think that your home insurance policy will pay for the majority of the repair bills, but some homeowners are unfortunately surprised to learn that their coverage does not apply to their situation.

Identifying the Cause of the Cracked Pipe

Pipes can crack or leak for numerous reasons. For example, the pipe may simply be old and weak, and it may have finally weakened to the point where it could no longer tolerate water pressure. In other cases, cold area may have caused the pipe to rupture. The homeowner may have turned off the heater and left for vacation. Perhaps the heater was on, but insulation around pipes in the exterior walls of the home was inadequate. Typically, a standard home insurance policy will cover damage that is sudden and unexpected. This may include some frozen pipe situations. However, if the homeowner was negligent, such as by turning off heat to the home in the dead of winter, the policy may not cover the damage.

Reviewing Your Insurance Policy

Standard policies may cover sudden and unexpected damage, but you may need a flood policy for other situations. For example, a flood policy may be required if the water damage was caused by a cracked sewer pipe that caused sewage waste to flow into your home or if water damage was done to the lawn and not to the home. By reviewing your policy, you can better determine if you can or should file a claim.

Exploring Your Best Options for Dealing With Water Damage

It is often best to speak with a plumber before filing a water damage claim. The plumber will be able to determine the cause of the damage. More than that, he or she can provide you with a repair quote to fix the pipe. You may also need to talk to a contractor about restoring water damage done to the home. Many home insurance policies have a deductible that equates to one to two percent of the home’s value. This means that you will still need to pay a sizable amount of the repair costs to meet your deductible. In some cases, it may not be worth having a claim on your record just for the insurance company to pay a very small amount of the repair cost.

A home insurance policy is in place to protect you from serious financial loss related to various types of damage and other issues. A water damage issue can be a very costly event to endure. Carefully review your policy and the repair quotes to determine if filing a claim is the right path to take.

Charlie Teschner started MESA Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in 1982. Charlie has a journeyman and master plumber’s license. He was raised with a strong work ethic and he now applies those values to tasks such as Longmont, CO heating repair.