5 Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

If you want to save a lot of money and prevent water damages, knowledge of basic plumbing skills is very, very important. Please keep in mind that major plumbing projects should be left to professionals. However, there are DIY plumbing jobs that you can tackle yourself to save a lot of money and prevent water damages.

Related Article: 6 Plumbing Tools Every Homeowner Should Have on Hand

Here are the 5 plumbing tips for homeowners:

1. Fixing a Leaky Tap

A leaky tap is when the washer is damaged or worn and needs to be replaced. Here are the steps on how to fix a leaky tap:

– Turn off the water supply in your home

– Remove the handle of the tap

– Use a cloth and a wrench to remove the plastic insert

– Unscrew the brass valve located in the tap

– Remove the nut which holds the washer in place, replace the washer with a new one and tighten the nut

– Reassemble the tap and make sure it is closed, then turn the water supply back on

2. Stopping a Running Toilet

A running toilet often happens when the flapper or flush valve seal inside the tank isn’t sealing properly. As the flappers wear out, water trickles out causing the water valve to open again and fill up the tank. Here are the steps on how to stop a running toilet:

– Turn off the water to the toilet using the valve on the pipe behind the toilet bowl

– Open the cistern to check if the chain is broken or needs to be justified

– If the chain is working, take a look at the arm holding it up

– If the flapper needs replacing, remove it and find a matching product to replace the valve in your toilet

3. Unclogging a Blocked Toilet

You should always have a plunger on hand in your bathroom just in case a toilet gets blocked. Here are the stop on how to unclog a blocked toilet:

– Wait until the water level has gone down

– Collect some old towels to use on the bathroom floor

– Plunge the toilet and flush carefully

4. Clearing a Clogged Drain

In order to clear a clogged drain you can use a natural approach or drain clearing chemicals:

– Using a natural approach: pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar and then boiling water

– Using drains clearing chemicals: remove any objects clogging the drain and pour the chemicals down as instructed

5. Replacing a Shower Head

Replacing a shower head is a job you can easily do yourself without calling a plumber. Here are the steps on how to replace a shower head:

– Unscrew the old shower head. If the arm needs to be replaced, unscrew this from the wall using an adjustable wrench

– Wrap some plumbers tape around the end of the new shower head arm to ensure a tight fit on the pipes and prevent leaks

– Screw the near arm and shower head into the wall

 

About Draintony

We are a locally owned and operated plumbing company, providing residential and commercial owner plumbing services. We specialize in Drain Repair, Drain Cleaning, Basement Waterproofing, Sump Pump Installation, Clogged Toilets and more. Our team at Draintony is dedicated to providing you premier plumbing quality and premier plumbing services.