Plumbing is about bringing in, using, and getting rid of water. There are two sides to home plumbing: freshwater supply pipes delivering clean water, and wastewater drain pipes taking dirty water away.

Understanding a few basic plumbing principles can help homeowners feel empowered and confident in dealing with common maintenance issues.

Clogged Drains

Drains are what take away the waste from your house, and clogged ones are among the most common plumbing problems. This is why it’s important to know what can go down the drain, and how to prevent clogs in the first place.

Water and waste move through the pipes using gravity, which means that all horizontal runs of drain pipe must slope downward slightly. Without the proper slope, waste carries away too much water and moves slowly or not at all down the line.

Over time, your drains collect soap scum, hair, food scraps, lint and other debris that can clog the entire pipe if not regularly cleaned. Fortunately, most residential drains are easy to clear when you use the right tools. To remove a mainline clog, you’ll need a power auger with at least 50 feet of cable. Plug the auger in, position it over the drain and turn on the motor with a foot-pedal switch. Feed a few feet of cable into the drain and then stop the motor when you feel resistance or hear a buzzing sound.

Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are great appliances for many homes, but they can also be a plumbing problem when they’re not used properly. In general, they should be run only with water and never toss food that is difficult for them to grind (like corn husks, artichokes, potato peels, or asparagus).

Leaks from the sink flange, dishwasher hose, drain pipe, or bottom of the disposal unit can occur. A leak from the sink flange is typically caused by a worn seal. This can be easily fixed by removing the disposal, reapplying plumber’s putty, and tightening the screws holding the flange to the sink.

If the disposal is leaking from the top or bottom, the first thing to check is that the circuit breaker hasn’t been flipped. Then, use a voltage tester to see if there are any loose wires that need to be tightened or replaced. Remove the faceplate from the switch, disassemble the disposal, clean out the drain trap and the curved pipe that catches all the gunk, replace the flange and any plumber’s putty that has deteriorated, and reconnect the piping.

Toilet

While toilets are an important and necessary part of every home, they can also be a source of frustration and even expensive repair or replacement costs. If your toilet is constantly clogging, for example, it’s a problem that should be addressed right away before it becomes more serious and leads to costly repairs.

A clogged drain or a leaking toilet tank can cause water to back up into your shower, which can lead to extensive and potentially dangerous damage. In these cases, you’ll want to call a professional plumber in Melbourne to assess the situation and make the appropriate repairs.

The water supply valve is the oblong-shaped faucet handle on the pipe that supplies your toilet with fresh water. It’s essential to make sure this is always fully open and that the braided water supply line isn’t blocked or clogged. This might cause the toilet to run continuously and can be fixed by turning the handle clockwise until it stops.

Everything that involves clean running water in your house and removing dirty water out of your house includes the plumbing system. From toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, sinks, showers, bathtubs, garbage disposals, etc. It is important to maintain every part of your plumbing system so that you prevent problems like the ones mentioned above. Regular maintenance is important but also remember that when you notice odors or leaks, that a professional plumber should be called to your home. They not only have the skills and experience to help identify these problems, they have the knowledge and equipment to rectify them too. Many homeowners do not know how to fix plumbing problems and if left untreated it could cause more damage to your home.