Plumbers can help with all plumbing repair problems big or small, but it costs money to have us come to your home. Many times, small issues can be taken care of by the homeowner and you can save calling the plumber for major emergencies. When there is a small problem, grab your wrench and plunger and get ready to tackle it all on your own.
A Toolkit for Plumbing Issues
Every good plumber has a toolkit, and so should every DIY plumber. It’s important to have a toolkit for plumbing that is separate from your primary toolkit. These tools will get down and dirty, so it’s best to just keep them together. You need two plungers: one for the sink and one for the toilet… don’t use the same one on both… ick. You’ll need an adjustable wrench, screwdriver, pliers, utility knife, plumbing tape and a caulking gun. With these tools, you’re ready to tackle almost any plumbing problem thrown at you.
Clean Out Drain and Clogs
Whether it’s a toilet, sink or bathtub, clogged drains can be a major pain. Many times, the culprit isn’t a children’s toy lodged in toilet or tree root cutting through the pipe. It’s more mundane such as food and grease in the sinks, hair in the bathtub and…poo…in the toilet. The good news is you can take care of these without call the plumber. Grab your trusty plunger and place it over the drain. It’s important that the plunger has a good seal, so when you press down on the plunger, the air rushes into the drain and not out the sides. Forcefully press down on the plunger repeatedly until the clog is cleared.
Running or Leaking Toilet
A running toilet is most likely caused by a stop valve or plug in the assembly inside the toilet tank. Open the back of the toilet and look to see the plug has a good seal or if the floater is too high and causing the plug to not cover the hole. You might be able to fix temporarily by jiggling the handle, but replacing the assembly is easy and inexpensive. If you have a leaky toilet, then you need to find out where the leak is occurring. If it’s a crack in the porcelain, then you might be able to caulk it. If it’s coming from under the toilet, then you’ll have to unscrew the main seat, empty out the water and lift it up to see the wax ring. The seal is likely broken, and you’ll need a new wax ring.
If you’re having a toilet or other plumbing problem, let us help you.
