If you are renting your home, you can’t always rely on your landlord or property manager to show up with a plumber immediately whenever you have a plumbing problem. Your landlord or property manager will need some time to look for or call a plumber. Also, if you’re not new to leasing a home, you’ll know that property owners or managers always have a lot of things on their hands and as such, won’t always act on your complaint quickly.
Knowing some basic but useful tips will help you have an easier and less stressful time dealing with certain plumbing problems. If you’re living in a rented property or preparing to move to one, below are some handy plumbing tips for renters you need to keep in mind:
Know where the shutoff valves are located.
Nearly all plumbing fixtures have a shutoff valve. These small valves are used to control the flow of water to a plumbing fixture such as the faucet, toilet, shower, or tub. The shutoff valve may appear as a handle on the wall near the floor under the toilet or sink. The valves of bathtubs and showers are often found in a nearby access panel.
Knowing where these shutoff valves are is important if you have a leaking pipe or faucet. If you have this problem, you can avoid wasting water and further damage to your rental property.
In case you can’t find the shutoff valve for a specific fixture, use the main shutoff valve for the home. Ask your landlord or property manager where in case of a plumbing emergency.
Protect and take care of all drains.
To protect your sink, shower and bathtub drains, use strainers. A strainer will catch food, hair, and other debris that can cause buildup and clog the pipes. Never pour or throw moisturizer, lotion, shaving cream, cooking or meat fat, oils, grease, rice or pasta and other fibrous materials down the drain. These items will expand and bloat or tangle up and cause drain blockage.
Use the toilet responsibly.
Don’t use your toilet as another garbage disposal system for soiled diapers, used tampons, and other items. Some toilets and plumbing systems are simply more susceptible to problems. Avoid placing anything except for toilet paper and natural waste in your toilet system.
Always keep your sinks clean.
Keep them clear and prevent backing up by pouring some Drano or a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda every 2-3 months down the drain. These items will help dissolve buildups in the drains and keep them running properly.
Buy a plunger.
A clogged toilet is one of the most stressful plumbing problems you can have. It is an issue you can easily fix without calling your landlord or property manager if you have a plunger. According to a trusted Appleton plumber, the best toilet plunger to get is the kind with an extended cup that sits inside the bottom of the bowl since this is easier to use.
For more difficult and complicated plumbing problems, you will have to wait for your landlord or property manager. Do not attempt to fix them yourself. You may end up aggravating the issue and causing more problems that may be more time-consuming and costly to repair. If you have questions or concerns please contact Tureks Plumbing Services.