Although water is the main source of life, in plumbing it can be the most detrimental and frustrate every homeowner. Beside natural disasters, not many other things can cause more destruction to a home than a serious problem with plumbing. The good news is that those who own their homes can take action to safeguard themselves so that issues do not occur.

If a plumbing project is in your future, know two things: what tools you have, and how you are supposed to use them. Make sure to read all of your manuals, and use things such as the library and the internet to read up on do it yourself projects. Be sure to plan before starting a repair, because it can be expensive to fix mistakes.

If you are unable to relieve a clogged toilet with a plunger, try pouring a small bucket of water into the bowl from about waist level if the level of water in the bowl is low. You can repeat this procedure once the water returns to a low level.

Use filters on all drains to prevent debris that might clog the pipes from getting through. Clean out the one in the kitchen whenever there’s something trapped there that shouldn’t be. Strainers placed in a bathtub can be cleaned periodically.

Don’t put fat, grease and other oils into the drain. They might be in liquid form, but after they cool off, they will solidify and make a clog in your drain pipe. This is especially damaging to garbage disposals because the fat can make the blades turn more slowly and less efficiently. Dispose of your oils in a coffee can or other suitable container instead of your sink.

Water from wells can cause orange or rust colored stains in places like bathtubs and sinks. This comes from large amounts of iron present in the water. You can deal with use by using a water softener, which is something you can get on your own at a local retailer, or by hiring a professional to come out.

If you have multiple plumbing problems, schedule all of them to be fixed together. You might want to call every time you need a tiny issue fixed with your plumbing, but if you know the system is bad, if you just call once, you can start saving for the major repair before you call. Doing this can also save you money, since it’s common for plumbers to charge hourly rates. It’ll condense the total amount of time they need to spend to something you can more easily afford.

A great maintenance routine for bathtub drains is to pour baking soda and vinegar into the drain opening once a month. Plug up the drain and allow the chemical reaction to occur. Wait until the chemical reaction runs its course, then flush the pipes by pouring in a kettle full of boiling water. By taking these steps, you have a good chance of ridding your pipes of hair and soap scum.

Becoming educated on plumbing and preparing beforehand can help prevent future issues. Even just learning the basics will go a long way to prevent costly and damaging mistakes. Indeed, those who proactively understand plumbing issues are far more likely to be able to solve a problem as soon as it occurs.