You know how expensive and annoying it can be if you’re a homeowner and have had to call a plumber to fix a problem. If you could fix your plumbing yourself, Wouldn’t it be great? Well, it might be easier than you think! Read on to find out how.

Use a hairdryer to thaw frozen pipes, after you shut off the water to the house. A hairdryer will gently heat the thaw and pipe the ice without causing significant damage to the pipe. Shutting off the water first means that if the pipe is broken, there will be no rush of water into the house.

Check your gas water heater periodically to make sure the pilot flame is lit. The correct color for this flame should be blue. The tip of the flame should be yellow. You may need to call a professional for safety reasons if you find that you are only seeing a yellow flame.

Avoid putting grease, fat, and other oils down your drain. Oils will eventually clog and harden up your drain. As an owner of garbage disposal, this is important because the blades will stop working if they have fat on them. The best thing to do is to dispose of oil-based liquids away from your sinks.

Got a leaky pipe? In many cases you can repair this yourself without the expense of a plumber. If a joint is leaking, tighten it with a pipe wrench. You can try repairing with a store-bought patching kit if the leak is coming from a damaged section of pipe. One method involves applying waterproof tape to the section of pipe where there is leakage. Make sure the pipe is thoroughly dry, before applying the tape. Make sure that the tape covers two to three inches on either side of the breakage in the pipe.

Prevention will save you money in plumbing bills. The repairs that plumbers perform the most are for drains that are clogged. One major thing that causes clots is grease. It builds up over and time. You can help prevent grease build up by looking for a product on the market that will clean the grease out.

There are simple ways to check your toilet for leaks that can ultimately lead to great cost savings in the long run. The easiest way to do this is to pour a small amount of food dye into the holding tank of your toilet overnight. In the morning, if you have any color in the basin then you know you have a leak that needs some attention.

Do not place items in the toilets that do not belong there. For example, if you are a female, do not throw away sanitary pads or tampons in your toilet. This could cause severe damage to your toilet that could require a plumber, or even worse, a whole new toilet!

Work with plumbers that offer flat rates. When a plumber is charging by the hour, they do not have an incentive to get the job done quickly. It is human nature to go just a little bit slower if it’ll mean extra money in our pockets. If you cannot find someone who charges per project make sure that you are vigilant in watching the clock and their work.

In the winter months, if you live somewhere where temperatures fall below freezing, leave your faucets on a little bit to let a thin stream of water through. This will help prevent the pipes from freezing, which could be a major problem for you and all the pipes in your home.

Solving your plumbing problems yourself can be a satisfying way to save money and take care of your house independently, as you can see. Next, time you have a plumbing problem, you’ll be ready to tackle the issue yourself with the tips you’ve taken from this article.