5 Plumbing Tips for the First-Time Homeowner

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You’re fast asleep in the middle of the night. Next thing you know, you’re awakened to a soft dripping noise coming from your bathroom. As you go to investigate, you soon realize that the floor of the master bathroom is covered in water!

Should you:

A) Get your tools
B) Call a plumber
C) Shut off your home’s water and go back to sleep

The answer isn’t always so clear, especially if you don’t know much about plumbing. If you had a hard time choosing, this article is for you.

We’ve compiled five plumbing tips to help you keep your money — and your sanity.

1. Learn Your Home’s Plumbing System

Every homeowner should be familiar with their water and gas system, if for no other reason than to shut them off in case of an emergency.

All plumbing is comprised of two systems: an ingoing system and an outgoing system. While that might sound simple enough, knowing the difference between the two can help you identify any future problems.

2. Get a Plunger

No homeowner ever thinks to buy a plunger until they have a problem.

Save yourself the embarrassment and snag a plunger as soon as possible. You can find them at grocery stores, hardware stores, and some pharmacies for just a few dollars.

3. Go Easy on Your Garbage Disposal

When you’re done with dinner, you just want to do the dishes, then sit down and relax. To help yourself save some time, you probably run your sink’s garbage disposal to break up food bits.

While that’s fine for the most part, be careful what you put down the pipes.

Coffee grounds, grease, and fiber-filled foods like bananas and celery are all no-gos, as they can clog your pipes and cause a backup. A drain snake and some Draino should take care of most issues, but avoiding the problem in the first place is always best.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Call in Some Backup

DIY tips are fantastic, especially if you’re looking to save some money. Yet at the same time, it’s important to know your limits.

There are some things that you can’t — or shouldn’t — attempt to do. We’re talking about things like installing new equipment, fixing valves, and repairing pipes.

Plumbers are trained professionals who know how to handle these tasks safely. So let the experts make your life a little easier by finding a trusted plumber in your area.

5. Plumber’s Tape Is a Miracle

Okay, we know that sounds a bit hyperbolic, but we mean it. Plumber’s tape retails for anywhere between $1 and $6 depending on the size of the roll, and it can save you hundreds in plumbers’ fees.

While plumbing tape won’t solve all your home’s issues, it can help patch up leaky showerheads or punctured pipes.