Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Needs to Know

Here at J.W. Freeman Plumbing, we understand that when you need a plumber “near me” in Gainesville, Florida, you need to quickly locate that plumber and call them in order to get your plumbing problems fixed before your house floods or starts smelling like sewage. There are also a few things you can do before you call to help prevent damage to your home and your plumbing system.

Keep a Sink and Toilet Plunger

Basic clogs in sinks and toilets can usually be cleared with a simple plunger. Our plumbers in Gainesville, FL recommend keeping one plunger in every bathroom and a smaller plunger under each of your sinks, especially your kitchen sink. If you accidentally flush too much toilet paper or have a hair clog in a bathroom sink or food clog in a kitchen sink, a plunger may be able to free the clog so that you can rinse it down the drain and send it on its way to the municipal water treatment plant.

Know Basic Garbage Disposal Maintenance

If your garbage disposal becomes jammed or clogged, there’s a good chance it doesn’t need to be replaced. Garbage disposals have an expected useful life of 12 years, so if your garbage disposal is only a few years old, it can most likely be fixed. To clear a clogged or jammed garbage disposal, you will need a quarter-inch hex wrench or the tool that came with your garbage disposal and a pair of needle-nose pliers. There is a hole on the bottom of the garbage disposal for the hex wrench. If there is an object in the top of the garbage disposal, you will need to remove that with the pliers. Under no circumstances should you ever put your hand in the garbage disposal. If you are uncomfortable working on your garbage disposal, you can always give us a call. Our plumbers would be happy to come out, clear your garbage disposal and give you pointers on how to prevent future clogs and jams and how to perform this basic maintenance yourself.

Watch What You Flush Down Your Toilet

Toilets are often treated as multi-purpose, bulk drains, with people flushing everything from paper towels to fish, food and small toys. Toilets are only designed to deal with human excrement and toilet paper. This means that you should avoid flushing paper products that are not toilet paper, including biodegradable wipes, kitty litter, food and facial tissue, as these things could clog your toilet and cause it to overflow or cause a sewer backup. If you do find yourself in a situation where your toilet is clogged and overflowing, shut the water valve off. Remove the lid and push down on the rubber flap at the bottom of the tank. This will stop the water from flowing into the bowl so that you can deal with the clog. If a regular plunger fails to free the line, give our plumbers a call. We can unclog your toilet and sewer line.

Make Sure You Know Where Your Main Water Cutoff Is Located

Take the time to locate your main water shutoff valve. In most homes, it is either located near the water meter and/or under a metal or plastic panel in your yard. This valve is essential for shutting off the water to your home when you are experiencing a leak that cannot be stopped by shutting the valve near a water fixture. This includes slab leaks, leaks behind walls and leaks located in showers that do not contain shutoff valves. Once you have the water off, it’s time to call our plumbers so that the leak can be fixed and your water service restored.

Getting Plumbing Help From J.W. Freeman Plumbing in Gainesville, FL

If you have a clogged drain, backed up sewer, water pipe leak or another plumbing issue, don’t hesitate to call us. Our experienced plumbers can come out to your home in a timely manner and clear your blocked drain and find and repair leaks.

To learn more about our plumbing services and to schedule an appointment or get emergency plumbing help, call us at 352-316-3229 or email us at jwfreemanplumbing@gmail.com. We serve the entirety of Gainesville and Alachua County, including all areas within a 50-mile radius.

J.W. Freeman Plumbing – Local Plumbers Near You | 4637 NW 6th St | Gainesville, FL 32609 | (352) 316-3229 | Map & Directions