It is common for plumbing problems to start right after you buy your beautiful new home. These problems are usually in the kitchen or bathroom. When buying a new home plumbing issues are something that every homeowner must anticipate. Using the following tips will help you with plumbing issues and save you from spending thousands of dollars in the future.

Ensure that if something goes wrong in your rubbish disposal that you resist any and all urges you have that might make you want to put your hands inside to fix a problem. Even if the disposal is turned off, it can still be hazardous. Use a guide or the Internet to locate a manual of your disposal, or a troubleshooting manual.

Keep a strainer over every drain in your house to prevent stray debris from clogging your pipes. Each time a filter is clogged, it should be cleaned. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.

Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. When these oils cool, they become hard and create clogs. This is especially true if you have a rubbish disposal, as the fat will cause the blades to run slower and less efficiently. Make sure you dispose of oils away from the sink.

Clearing Items Out of the Garbage Disposal

Safety is important when clearing your garbage disposal. Before you start, be sure to turn off the fuse that regulates power to your garbage disposal to ensure there is no chance for the unit to turn on while you’re clearing it. Using tongs or pliers, you may be able to remove any non-disposable items stuck inside your garbage disposal. You should try to avoid sticking your hands inside of the disposer, but if it becomes necessary to use your hands, be sure that the power to the unit is disabled.

Cleaning the Grinding Elements Using Ice and Rock Salt

You can combine two cups of ice cubes and a cup of rock salt to make a great cure for malodorous garbage disposals. Fill the garbage disposal with the ice cubes and then pour the salt over the ice cubes. Run cold water and turn on the garbage disposal for approximately 5-10 seconds. The combination of ice and rock salt will help knock sludge and debris off of the grinding elements so that they can make their way down the drain. If you don’t happen to have rock salt, substituting a cup of vinegar will also work.

2. Clearing the Drain Line

Good general garbage disposer maintenance includes a periodic purging of the drain line leading from the garbage disposal. You should also purge the line after removing sludge and debris because it ensures that all dislodged items make their way down the drain. This can be accomplished by plugging your drain, filling your sink with 2-4 inches of water and then removing the drain plug and turning on the garbage disposal. Then all of the collected water gets pulled through the line. In addition to being a part of good maintenance, you should also clear your drain line each time after you dispose of particularly fibrous foods. It will help ensure that all of the food particles make their way down the drain.