No one is excited to fix the plumbing in their own home, most people don’t want to deal even with the most common issues. Ideally, when something breaks down or malfunctions, you just get the phone and call a professional plumber. However, in time of crisis like this one, it is not always simple to receive the help you need. Luckily, there are a few common plumbing issues that you can fix yourself. Today we are going to share with you how to do it or at least keep the problem at bay until professional plumber arrives.
Read also: What Are the Duties of a Handyman?
Throwing out ground coffee is one of the most common causes of clogged kitchen sink drains.
Kitchen Sink or Bathtub Not Draining
We’ve all had this problem at least once. After washing a big load of dishes, the drain suddenly gets blocked, and your kitchen sink is full of water. In most cases, this is a result of food residue and other substances going down the drain where they bond and form a blockage. Crumbs, fats and coffee grounds are the usual culprits for clogged kitchen sinks. In the bathtub or shower, the blockage usually consists of hair and soap residue that restricts the flow of water down your drain.
There are two ways to deal with blockages like this. One is to pour some drain cleaning chemical down the drain to disintegrate the build-up. If you don’t have an appropriate product at hand, you can try the old baking soda and vinegar recipe. Just drop a handful of baking soda directly into the drain then pour 1/2 glass of vinegar. Let the chemical reaction do its magic for 10 minutes before flushing everything with hot water. For more stubborn blockages you can get yourself a cheap drain snake, remove the drain cover, and carefully break down the build-up. It is a good idea to put a drain guard over the drains of your sinks, bathtub or shower to prevent the re-occurrence of this plumbing issue.
Here is the scheme for the most popular types of toilet flushing systems.
Toilet Issues – Doesn’t Flush or Leaks
If the toilet has trouble flushing, it’s usually due to faults with the flushing mechanism or because the tank isn’t filling. This is a simple problem and thus, very easy to fix. Open the water tank and check for anything obstructing the flushing mechanism and remove it. A runny toilet tank can be quite an expensive issue if it stays unfixed since the water is always going. Sometimes all you need to do is to gently move the “float” around(it looks like a plastic balloon, you can’t really miss it!). The float’s function is to fix to block the filling valve until the next flush. If you can’t find the culprit behind the issue, you can opt for buying a toilet repair kit from your local hardware store. However, it’s even a better idea to call a plumber to be sure that everything will be fixed and you will avoid further problems.
Check also: How to Find a Reliable Plumber
The culprit behind drops in water pressure might be out of your home.
Low Water Pressure
When you’re in the shower or washing your hands, and suddenly the flow of water weakens, you’ve certainly got a drop in water pressure. Before you panic and start dialling your plumber, wait to see if the water pressure comes back up. Sometimes a pressure drop can occur due to а planned or unplanned repair of the water supply systems in your neighbourhood. But if the problem remains for a while, it’s worth diagnosing the source.
The most common problem is limescale build-up on the aerators of your shower head or faucet. The most efficient thing you can do is cleaning the bathroom fittings with cleaning products that contain hydrochloride acid. Soak them in the cleaner for 30 minutes then brush off the build-up from the aerators. If you still have water pressure issues after reassembling everything, you may have more severe problems with your plumbing. In this case, it’s safer to turn to a professional handyman to check the situation.
In most cases, you can repair the dripping faucet fast and easy by yourself.
Dripping Taps
Dripping water coming from your taps is more than an annoying noise. This issue can also cause your water bill to go up. Often, the problem is worn down or dislodged part in the faucet. Luckily, you can try and fix this common plumbing problem by yourself. For this repair, you will need an adjustable wrench. Start by turning off the water from the main water valve or from the local one if there is such. Then, get the wrench and carefully unscrew different elements to take apart the faucet.
In most cases, the culprit for the constant dripping is the rubber seat washer. If it looks like it’s worn out or torn, take it to the hardware store and get a replacement. It’s essential to bring the old rubber because there is a variety of sizes and widths these parts have. Then, reassemble the faucet using the new piece and see if you’ve fixed the problem. Limescale can also cause drips and leaks from the faucets. So if the rubber seat washer seams intact, you should inspect for mineral build-ups and remove them with a cleaning product containing hydrochloric acid.
Check also: Why Do You Need to Hire a Professional Handyman
Know When to Call a Plumber
It’s essential to understand when you are overmatched. Certain plumbing problems may seem easy to fix. However, with some repairs, you can go down the rabbit hole and make the situation even worse. If a fix requires specialised tools or goes beyond unclogging a drain or taking apart the kitchen faucet, then don’t take the risk. If in doubt – just give us a call. We will send your way a professional handyman for plumbing repairs.
