Serious plumbing problems will cause serious headaches for you, not to mention the potential damage to your home. The tips in this article will help give you the knowledge you need to start fixing your own plumbing problems.

You should have your septic tank pumped once every five years for best performance. Doing this prevents any sediment from getting built up within the tank, which causes a backup in your home or causes your entire septic system to fail. While you may find it costly to get your septic tank cleaned out, the cost is much higher to have sewage and backups cleaned up and your septic tank repaired or replaced.

Do not pay anything until the problem is fixed. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but you should never have to pay in full until after everything has been correctly finished. If you pay everything up front, you have no recourse if the plumber doesn’t finish the job or doesn’t do it correctly.

While various toilet tablets and odor removers may be tempting, it’s best not to use them in your toilet. These tablets have chemicals that can damage rubber parts that are essential to the proper functioning of your toilet.

Use strainers on all drains to keep foreign objects and debris from clogging drains. The strainer in the kitchen sink should be cleaned each time you have large particles trapped in it. Bathtubs should be equipped with strainers as well, and they too will need to be cleaned regularly.

Pour baking soda and vinegar down your bathtub drain every month. Cover with a rag or plug, as a chemical reaction will occur in the pipes. Wait until the chemical reaction runs its course, then flush the pipes by pouring in a kettle full of boiling water. This process should open up the pipes by clearing out hair build-up and soap scum.

If you see unwanted water that keeps draining into your dishwasher, the problem is most likely a hose running to your kitchen sink that was not correctly installed. Your hose must run in a hill pattern to avoid water mixing. Think of the St. Louis Arch — start from your sink, go uphill with the hose, and then down before connecting to the dishwasher. This way, only pressurized water can travel through the hose. Leakage won’t be an issue.

Don’t use your toilet as a trash can in order to avoid problems. Never flush paper towels, tissue, diapers, or tampons. These things do not break up correctly and can clog your pipes. You will also want to use the least amount of toilet paper as required.

Plumbing ca be a very hard issue to deal with, but if you do some work and exhibit patience, you can help them. It just takes research and perhaps asking a plumber what to do and how to fix it properly. By following the tips you just read about getting rid of plumbing problems, you are doing yourself a service.