Water can be a serious source of issues for a homeowner. There is not much else short of catastrophe that is going to cause as much damage to a home as plumbing issues. However, there are many ways homeowners can protect themselves from these issues and create plans for minimizing these issues when they do arise.

To prevent frozen pipes, always keep the living spaces in your house above freezing, even if you aren’t home. Any exposed pipes need to be insulated against the outdoor temperatures. But, be advised that your pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature near those pipes is less than freezing. At best, it can take time for them to thaw and for you to be able to have running water. But, more importantly, the pipes can burst, which will cause a huge mess and big repair bill.

If any water pipe that you have freezes, be sure to turn on the faucet that is closes to the pipe to give the water an exit as the pipe thaws. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

A great tip to use to stop your septic tank from backing up is to make sure you have it pumped at least every five years. This will prevent sediment from piling up in your tank, which could cause it to overflow into your home and yard, or even cause the entire septic system to fail. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.

If you have a clogged toilet and a plunger is not helping to clear the blockage, if the water level is low, pouring a bucking of boiling water from a height into the toilet bowl could resolve the problem. This procedure can be repeated if the water level again returns to a level that is too low.

Never reach into a garbage disposal that you think isn’t working. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even when they are turned off. Troubleshooting techniques and schematics of your garbage disposal are available on the Internet.

You should make sure that the holes are not stopped up on the overflow. Overflow holes exist to act as a double check in case of an overfilling sink. That may seem unimportant – but it will become a problem if they are clogged. The overflow holes should be cleaned out regularly; do this when you are making your regular checks for other issues that necessitate fixing.

Always use cold water when your garbage disposal is running. The cold water helps the blades that are inside stay sharp, and will keep your disposal running smoothly. Hot water will liquefy grease and build up inside the drain, eventually causing clogs.

Being properly informed and ready for any situation makes it much easier to avoid problems with plumbing. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. It’s also true that a homeowner can fix problems smoothly and quickly if he prepares for potential trouble.