We have provided a few tips to help you to save on plumbing repair costs and also to help prevent plumbing emergencies from occurring. These are some of the most commonly needed drain service and pipe maintenance suggestions that we could put together. It's our hope that through preventative maintenance and the hiring of responsible professionals when you do have a problem, you will never have to deal with a catastrophic plumbing-related issue.
Isolation valves at each fixture stop the flow of water to that area. This lets water go to the rest of the house while a repair is taking place. Also, try and turn these isolation valves off and on at least once or twice a year to keep them in working condition.
Pipes are supposed to be anchored with intermittent pipe straps. If you are hearing banging sounds from your pipes, you may need to add straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket. (Or both). Also, if you have the knowledge to do this work yourself, remember not to use galvanized straps on the copper straps.
If you have a plumbing emergency that involves a particular appliance or fixture, look for the shutoff valve that is beneath or behind that appliance/fixture and turn it clockwise until it's off.
If you have a plumbing emergency that isn't appliance-specific, make sure that everyone in the home knows where the main shutoff valve is and how to close it.
If you have a steaming hot water faucet, you will need to open all the hot water faucets to relive the overheated hot water heater. Next, you will have to turn off the gas or electric power supply to the heater. You will have to let the faucet(s) run until cold water comes out of them. Once they are flowing with cold water, you have to close them. Once they are closed and all of these steps are complete, call in a licensed professional to make any repairs that may be needed to the heaters's thermostat and pressure relief valve.
The first step in handling this problem is to shut off any faucet or appliance that may be draining into the sink. Attempt to use a plunger or snake to unclog the drain. If the blockage is total, DON'T use a chemical drain cleaner!
Winterizing your plumbing system really costs you nothing and saves you money in the long-run. Consider doing this every year to keep from having rupturing pipes and many of the other nuisances that come from frozen lines.