Milwaukee Plumbing & Piping, Inc. offers helpful tips that can save homeowners and building owners money in the long run.
Some people like to take on simple plumbing projects themselves, and that’s great, if it’s something they enjoy doing. A common issue that pops up though, is having the proper tool to finish a project. It typically does not make sense to purchase specialized, expensive tools that are required for just one project. If you get to that point, give us a call. We are happy to install any plumbing fixture for you even if you did not buy it from us.
Backwater occurs when sanitary sewers cannot handle the load, and water backs up into your basement. A simple, proactive solution is to install a backwater valve, which could save thousands of dollars in the future.
If a pipe bursts, a toilet overflows or your water heater fails, the first thing you will want to do is shut off the water. To do this, you need to know the location of the main water supply and the valves for individual fixtures like sinks, toilets, water heaters and clothes washers. Turning the water supply off can prevent water loss from flooding and property damage so it’s important that you know where the valves are and how to shut them off.
You don’t need harsh chemicals or special tools to treat your drains, in fact professional plumbers prefer you don’t use them. Our advice is to either run 1 to 2 gallons of hot tap water down each drain or to use a natural, non-poisonous product called Bio-Clean. Bio-Clean is distributed exclusively through the plumbing industry.
Never flush facial tissue, Q-tips and even products labeled “flushable” down your toilet. Newer, low-flush model toilets are more easily clogged with paper and “flushable” cleaning products.
Many people think that the garbage disposal is where leftover food is supposed to go. That’s wrong! If food can be prevented from going down the disposal, clean it out and put it in the waste can. The disposal is there to prevent clogs from food that accidentally goes down the drain. Also, make sure to run plenty of cold water while using your disposal to prevent clogs. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, keep food scraps and grease, from going down the drain. They can build up in layers in pipes and cause blocking.
Hot water is more corrosive than cold water and you will extend the life of your water heater simply by reducing the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.