When you are repairing a faucet, it is a good idea first to line your sink with a towel. This will help to prevent small parts from sliding down your drain, and it will also help to prevent your tools from damaging the basin of your sink.

If you need to replace your faucet, try a single-handle faucet with a stainless steel design. These faucets are a long-lasting alternative to standard faucets because they have just one moving part. Because of this, they reduce problems from worn washers, which can result in leakage issues. They are also easier to repair because of a water-control mechanism in new models that are in cartridges. The cartridges are easy to replace if need be.

In extreme cold weather, you should always try to leave a trickle of water running from your faucets. The steady flow of water will help to prevent your pipes from bursting. You should also try to wrap un-insulated pipes with material such as foam, self-adhesive insulating tape, or newspapers.

When cooking, DO NOT pour grease down the sink, nor dispose of coffee grounds by washing them down the sink. These are two major ways in which kitchen drains can get clogged.

When cleaning your kitchen, try to avoid chemical cleaners, especially if your drainpipes or traps are made of cast-iron, steel, or brass. Some chemicals can corrode these items. But, cleaners containing sodium hydroxide or sodium nitrate can be used if they are only used every few months.

Before attempting to unclog a bathroom sink or shower drain with a chemicals or a plunger, first check the pop-up stopper to make sure that it is free of debris, such as soap or hair.

When repairing leaks in your water line, a small leak can sometimes be stopped temporarily by plugging it with a pencil point. However, this should only be a TEMPORARY measure used when you have nothing else to plug the leak with.

Make sure you know the location of every water shut-off valve in your house, as well as your main shut-off valve, and how they operate. This will be helpful if you are having a plumbing emergency, as you will quickly be able to shut off your water flow if need be.

If your shower head has weak or erratic pressure, this is generally a sign of mineral buildup in the head. You can clean the shower head's outlet holes with a pin. Or, you can also unscrew the perforated face plate containing the outlet holes, soak it overnight in a vinegar solution, and then scrub it until it is clean and properly functioning again.

About every six months or so, to avoid sediment buildup in your hot water heater, you should open the drain at the bottom of the heater, and let the water run into a bucket until it looks clear.

When working on plumbing issues with a lot of parts, grab a pencil and notepad and write down the order of how they go back as you're taking it apart. This will save you some time trying to figure it out when you're putting it back together.

A third major cause of kitchen drain clogs is misuse of your garbage disposal unit. While disposers can handle most food waste items, NEVER try grinding corn cobs or husks, lettuce, or potato peelings in your disposal. They'll clog the disposal and your drain faster than anything!

If you must use a chemical drain cleaner to unclog your sink, NEVER use a plunger or an aerosol drain opener if the chemical fails to work. Plunging and using aerosol openers can send caustic material or acid spraying back on you, causing severe injuries and damage.