If plumbing is something that can have you stumped, you probably know how expensive it is to have it done professionally. You also may have to wait for a plumber to arrive when there’s a problem happening now! Don’t let this happen, read on for tips on solving your own plumbing problems!

Keep your bathtub in good shape by using a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down its drain monthly. Cover the drain up with a plug or old rag, as there will be a chemical reaction in the pipes. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. This method clears out soap scum buildup and accumulated hair that gets caught in the pipes.

If water is not coming to the dishwasher, you most likely have a blockage somewhere. You will need to turn off the water supply and remove the hose that leads to the dishwasher. After securing the hose, turn the water back on. See if it feeds into a bowl. You must find the block where it is at which may include removing more piping if not.

Do not overload your garbage disposal. Cut them up into smaller pieces if you need to dispose of large items. Also, do not put too much in at a time, put one or two items in and wait a few seconds to dispose of the rest. Overloading your disposal can cause the engine to overheat.

Set the temperature on your hot water heater to a temperature that does not exceed 120 degrees. This helps to save energy and prevents the water from becoming too hot and potentially scalding someone in your household. Older models that do not have a temperature setting should be set on Medium.

Try a cleaner that is enzyme based if you have pipes that are clogged. These will utilize natural bacteria to transform sludge into a liquid that can be removed. Enzyme based cleaners are not corrosive so they won’t erode your metal pipes.

Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear clogged drains by purchasing a hand-held manual auger. A drain auger is a one-time purchase as opposed to purchasing a new bottle every time a drain is clogged. This is especially helpful for people who deal with clogged drains often, such as people with long hair or kids who like to drop things down the drain.

Don’t run the water when the garbage disposal is used. People think that things will go more smoothly down the disposal if water is used at the same time, but it does nothing to help. In some cases, water can actually cause garbage to become lodged in awkward places, and contribute to future problems.

Do you have a frozen drainpipe? You can use a garden hose to thaw it out. First, of all, remove the trap from the drainpipe and insert the hose until it will not go any further. While lifting up the other end of the hose, pour hot water down it. Keep pouring hot water down the hose until the drainpipe thaws. To save time with cleanup, keep a bucket underneath to catch the water that overflows.

Regular maintenance of your plumbing lines is a great idea. Your options are getting your lines snaked or jetted. Jetted is a technology that is proven more effective than snaking is. It gets deeper and cleans harder. So jetting is a good idea next time you are having maintenance performed on your lines.

There’s no reason to pay so much just to wait for a plumber to come and fix a problem that you could be working on yourself, as you can see. Applying the tips in this article can save you time and money next time your plumbing needs to be repaired.