Plumbing issues are a headache for people who don’t know how to fix them. If you hire a professional plumber you are looking at a wait time and pretty costly repairs, most likely for something that can easily be solved on your own. Keep reading for ways to make your plumbing woes disappear.

If you have pipes that make hammering and squeaking noises, you have one easy repair. Those pipes will need to be anchored if they are exposed. If pipes are located in the floors, ceiling or walls, a professional might be needed for the job.

If you don’t want plumbing in your home frozen, then don’t let the inside temperature go under the freezing mark, and make sure any pipes that have no protection from the elements are thoroughly insulated. But, be advised that your pipes may freeze if the surrounding temperature near those pipes is less than freezing. If you are lucky, you will only experience a minor inconvenience until the pipes thaw. Frozen pipes can also burst, which can be very messy and expensive to repair.

If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. As such, bursting can be halted, saving you from even more costly damages.

Don’t give a plumber the total bill payment upfront; pay them only when they have finished the job. You might have to give them a deposit, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You want to know the plumber has fulfilled all his requirements as promised in the agreement before he gets paid.

If something is wrong with the disposal in your sink, avoid the temptation to stick your hand in there to fix it. Garbage disposals can be dangerous, even if they are powered off. Research your disposal online to locate a detailed diagram or troubleshooting guide for your model.

Avoid dumping oil, fat, and grease in your drain. As they cool off, they can solidify and effectively create clogs and blockages in your drains. Grease is of particular concern when there is a disposal unit installed in your drain. It can cause the unit to lose efficiency. Don’t put oils down the sink.

Keep the garbage disposal clean to make sure it will last as many years as your house does. Cleaning can be done with a variety of things you may already have in your home, such as dish-washing soap, the rinds of lemons, or the pits of cherries. When you create a regular cleaning schedule, you can make sure your garbage disposal runs in tip-top shape and smells fresh and like new.

As you can see, plumbing problems don’t have to be so difficult. If you can solve the problem yourself, you can save time waiting for a plumber, as well as saving a whole lot of money. Try applying what you’ve learned from this article next time you have a plumbing problem!