5 Plumbing Fixes That You Can Tackle Yourself
Home repairs like clogged drains and leaky pipes can add to your bills fast, especially if you pay for a plumber to take care of them. In many cases, you can fix a variety of issues around the house without the need for a professional.
With a few tools and simple tricks, you can keep your home in working order and save hundreds of dollars each year. Here are five plumbing DIY fixes that you can handle without a house call.
Leaky Faucet
The process for fixing a leaking faucet depends on the type of sink you have. That said, most faucets have either a screw behind the handle or a screw at the top. You can use a Phillips head screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove the screw.
After taking off the handle, you will be able to remove the assembly. This gives you access to the packing nut, cartridge and O-rings. We recommend cleaning the parts, replacing the cartridge, and replacing any O-rings that look worn or damaged. You can then place the handle back on and test the faucet to make sure it’s working properly.
Having professionals clean our new home saves us so much time and our house looks fabulous! Everything smells fresh and clean.
Janet Green
Clogged Toilet
You can unclog a toilet by using a plunger in most cases. On the other hand, there are times when you may have no access to a plunger. If you need to unclog your toilet without the use of a plunger, there are a few other methods you can try.
First, try to remove the clog by pouring hot water into the toilet bowl. The heat may help break it up more quickly. If necessary, you can give the method a little extra boost by adding dish soap or baking soda and vinegar. Letting these sit in the bowl for 30 minutes to an hour will likely take care of the clog.
Jammed Garbage Disposal
A jammed garbage disposal is one of the easiest plumbing maintenance issues to fix on your own. All it takes is access to the garbage disposal and a hex wrench.
Make sure your garbage disposal is unplugged before you put anything inside. Then, you can place the hex wrench into the hex-shaped hole under the disposal. Cranking it back and forth will help free the impellers so they can run smoothly again.
Low Water Pressure
While there are several reasons why your water pressure may be low, most of them are issues you can fix without a plumber. First, you might consider checking the water valves in your home to make sure they are turned on all the way.
You can also try removing the spray plate from your shower or the aerator from your faucet. Doing a thorough cleaning or soaking them in vinegar may remove debris, scale or other contaminants that can affect water pressure.
Clogged Drain
You can fix a clogged drain easily without having to call a professional or use harmful chemicals. All you need is a simple baking soda and vinegar solution. Pour it down the drain and let it sit for at least an hour. After that, you can run hot water through the drain to flush out anything left behind.
This is just one of many ways to clear out a drain. Some individuals may use boiling water or even bent hangers to pull out junk from their plumbing.
