10 Plumbing Tips Every Home Needs

The average person in the UK uses up to 149 litres of water every day. From washing to drinking, water plays a vital role in much of our daily life and yet most of us are completely reliant on a third party to deliver this water to us day after day. Cover your back with these 10 plumbing tips that will get you out trouble when the waterworks start to falter.

Learn the Difference Between a Leaky Roof and Condensation

The stains caused by both leaky roofs and condensation can be problematic, so it is important they can be accurately identified to help you fix the problem effectively and efficiently. A condensation stain will usually be found near an external wall and manifest itself in a series of small circles with white centres. To fix the problem of condensation stains, remove the panel and check for a vapour barrier. If the vapour barrier is not present, get one installed.

A leak stain will have a darker centre and can be fixed by locating the root of the leak and using this guide to find the correct method to fix it.

Clear your Gutters

It’s a messy job that often gets ignored because frankly no one wants to get up on the ladder and remove wet mushy leaves from their drainpipes. However, it is vital that the job is completed at least once a year after autumn ends. Clear gutters will flow more efficiently, preventing a build-up of damp.

Lemon that Limescale

Limescale can be hugely damaging for chrome fittings and fixtures but can be easily dealt with. Ignore the expensive Limescale-busting products on the market, and use a lemon to remove Limescale stains instead. As well improving the aesthetics of the fittings, half a lemon can improve the health of both the interior and exterior of the chrome.

Keep the Pressure On

Households suffering from low water pressure will be subjected to unsatisfying showers and lengthy waits for baths to fill. Alleviate this by improving the water pressure of your home. Low pressure may be caused by damaged pipes or blockages so be sure to check your home’s piping before taking action. If you cannot find the root of the problem, a home booster kit from Complete Pump Supplies can help improve the water pressure of your home and bless you with satisfying showers and delightful baths.

Be Wary of Pipes

Even if you are doing the smallest of jobs in a bathroom or kitchen, be wary of the positioning of the pipes in the room. This will help you avoid damaging the pipes and flooding your home. Just one nail through a pipe can lead to disaster.

Be Careful with Grease

Grease is the number one cause of blockages when poured down the sink. Pouring grease down the sink or toilet can lead to blockages and it all backing up. The best way to dispose of grease is pouring it in a can and freezing it. When it is hardened, it can be thrown away with the rest of the home’s general waste.

Find your Water Valve

When moving into a new home, one of the very first things you do (even before popping the obligatory champers) is locate the water valve. So if the worst is to happen, you can quickly turn the water supply off and further damage can be restricted.

Combat the Overflowing Toilet

If your toilet’s water level seems to be creeping up the bowl, there is a simple technique which can help reduce the risk of overflow. By turning on the cold water tap of the sink in the bathroom, the rise of the water can be slowed, granting you time to get to the water valve and locate the plunger.

Keep it Tight

Sometimes a leaky tap can be caused by something as simple as a loose external fitting. The first thing you should try when encountering a leaky tap is to simply tighten it. This removes the risk of embarrassing yourself and incurring a call-out fee by calling out a plumber for such as simple task.

Keep your Water Valve Oiled

Your water valve is your best friend in the battle against plumbing disaster and should be treated as such. Oil the valve twice a year to ensure it is always working and can always be relied upon. This prevents the nightmare scenario of coming to turn off the water, only for the valve to be stuck and the water ever-rising around you and your loved ones.

And finally… keep a plumber’s number handy. There’s some jobs you’ll need a professional for.