Do-it-yourself projects are not always the way to save money; this is certainly a true statement when it comes to plumbing issues, but there are a few things that you can do yourself to keep the need for a professional to a minimum.

Of all the do-it-yourself home projects that can be taken on by a homeowner, plumbing is the most intimidating. It is true that in depth repairs and the plumbing parts of remodeling projects should be done by a professional, but there are a few things that you can learn to do around the house for the sake of saving a house call.

Beginning in the kitchen, installing a garbage disposal, changing out faucets, and hooking a new refrigerator to an existing ice maker line are all things that can be completed safely and easily by a homeowner. You can also prevent issues by cleaning your sink drains weekly. To do this, poor a gallon of boiling water down the drain to clean any grease build up; afterward sharpen the blades of the disposal by putting ice down the drain and turning on the device. For an added aroma therapeutic touch, add a lemon rind to the ice. Blade maintenance does more than make doing the dishes quicker; it ensures that food will be chopped and dissolved preparedly thus preventing future clogs.

In the bathrooms, try fitting all the bath drains with strainers. These are more commonly found in the kitchen, but when used in a tub, hair, rocks, dirt, and other matter that mysteriously appears in the bath particularly after children bathe a strainer could potentially save you major dollars. While we are focusing on the bathroom, make sure that your hot water heaters are set to one-hundred and twenty degrees to prevent potential burns to children who may turn the hot water on high when an adult's back is turned. This is a simple task to complete if your water heater is a gas heater; however, if you have an electric water heater, you may need to contact a professional to help you determine if you can change the temperature.

Outside of the home, make a habit of keeping the hose rolled up and put away. In the winter, an unrolled hose can freeze and back up into the house. It is also advisable to keep insulators on the water spigots outdoors to prevent frozen pipes. If you live in an older home, there is truth to the old advice of leaving faucets dripping and cabinets that lead to plumbing open during hard weather freezes. This is even suggested in new homes when the weather is especially treacherous.

Of course keeping the ever handy plunger on hand is a good idea. Most minor clogs can be resolved with one of these tools and little elbow grease, and sometimes an over the counter drain clearing product will do the trick as well, but if clogs and other pipe issues are a chronic problem in your home, call a plumber. The money spent on correcting the issues will be a good investment.