By Allie Perez for George Plumbing Company, Inc.
May 25, 2018
The month of May allows us to reflect and celebrate the magnanimity of our mothers. Whether raised by your mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, or other female relative, the term mother applies to all of those who nurture and raise young ones. Credited with wisdom, moms offer the best advice. Some advice was just good common sense: Do not eat yellow snow. And some advice did not make sense for decades: This too shall pass. One of our favorites: If you want something done right, do it yourself. Even though we are a plumbing company, we still believe that there are some plumbing problems you can fix yourself. On behalf of moms everywhere, we share a few DIY plumbing tips and tricks ANYONE can utilize. Plumbing repairs range in severity and cause.
A common repair for moms, toys down the toilet or garbage disposal. For most clogs in a toilet:
- Pour hot water in toilet bowl and attempt to flush – If that does not move the clog, add some soap to the hot water and retry.
Cleaning your showerhead:
- Want to win some brownie points? DO THIS FOR YOUR MOTHER!
- Fill a gallon sized plastic Ziploc bag with vinegar
- Place your showerhead in the filled bag
- Use a hair tie or rubber band to tie it around the showerhead
- Leave it soaking for hours
- The result: a clean showerhead
- For lyme stains, use a pumice stonePlumbing systems are complex and require regular maintenance to ensure all piping and appliances operate efficiently. Below we list a few tips to help with home plumbing maintenance and conservation:Eliminate Smells/Odors from Garbage Disposal
- Add ice and lemon juice to the garbage disposal
- Allow the water to run while the garbage disposal is in operation
- Add some dish soap for a fresh, clean smell.Conserve water in Toilets
- Fill a 20-ounce bottle of water
- Place it in the toilet tank, away from the mechanisms
- Less water will fill the tank, conserving water per flush.The Power of Power Tools
- Hate cleaning your bathtub? Have a drill?
- Put a scrubbing sponge on the end of your drill
- Scrub away, with minimal effort!When it comes to major plumbing problems and installation of major appliances, we recommend calling in the professionals. However, you should keep in mind the following:
- Do not be cheap
- You can save yourself some major damage if you make sure not to skimp on the important stuff.
- For example, if you choose to replace your water heater or toilet, purchase and install new emergency cut off valves and supply lines. It is tempting to try and save a few pennies, but: out with the old and in with the new. A leak from an old, worn supply line could cause major property damage.
- Show everyone in the family how to turn off water at each fixture and the main water to the home; waiting until an emergency will create additional havoc. If everyone knows what to do when a leak occurs, it will help prevent additional property damage.Moms have enriched us with powerful wisdom. Hopefully, the above imparts some knowledge back to them. Thanks moms! While we highly encourage others to never miss an opportunity to learn a new skill, we also caution to know your limits. Plumbers are licensed and insured with decades of experience. When you need a plumber, do not hesitate, yell for George!
