As a homeowner, maintaining your plumbing system is a must. The plumbing system is an essential amenity as it harnesses clean water—a resource necessary for hygiene, health, and well-being. The condition of your plumbing system also affects the comfort of your household.
To ensure that your plumbing remains functional for years, it’s important to learn some basic plumbing skills. Being equipped with these skills can save you a lot of money in the long run as you can prevent problems from worsening. Plus, when you know how to repair common plumbing problems on your own, you’ll feel more accomplished as a homeowner. Exert effort to learn these plumbing skills so you can save tons of money:
1. Unclogging A Toilet
A clogged toilet is a common problem among homeowners. Aside from being an inconvenience, it can eventually take a toll on the health of your entire household. Clogged toilets can facilitate bacteria growth and make it easier for bacteria to thrive and multiply. Sutherland Shire plumbers and other plumbing experts would recommend investing in a plunger with a narrower flange at the end to easily unclog toilets. Once you have one, follow these tips:
- Gently plunge once. Initially, the bell of the plunger will be full of air, so release the air pocket slowly. Don’t thrust too hard as this will only force the air back around the seal, causing water to blow all over your bathroom.
- After the air is released, plunge vigorously in and out while maintaining the seal. This repeated movement will cause the water to move in both directions of the drain, which can eventually loosen the clog. Depending on how severe the clog is, you might need to repeat this step for about 15 to 20 times.
- Ensure that your bowl has enough water to cover the bell of the plunger.
2. Clearing A Slow Drain
Slow-moving drains are a nuisance. Washing dishes and taking a shower can become a time-consuming chore if your drains move slow or, in worse cases, stop working. This problem is also a cause for concern because drains that don’t work properly encourage the growth of bacteria. If you notice that your drains are moving slow or have completely stopped working, try using natural cleaning products to solve the problem. Simply pour some baking soda down the drain, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then pour vinegar next. Cover the drain for about ten minutes and wash the solution by pouring boiling water. If this hack doesn’t work, use acid drain cleaners. These products contain chemicals that can easily melt grime and other residues that might have caused problems in your drains.
3. Turning Off The Water In The House
Plumbing emergencies such as burst pipes and sump pump failure can do a lot of damage to your home when water continues to flow. This is one of the reasons why you should learn how to turn off the water in the house to prevent plumbing emergencies from causing more damage. For starters, you should know where the water shut-off valve is located in your home and take the time to practice turning it off. The water shut-off valve is usually located in the garage, crawl space, or near the water heater or furnace. Once you learn where the valve is and how to shut it off properly, share the information with the rest of the household. When everyone in the home should know how to turn off the water, plumbing emergencies are controlled and prevented.
4. Fixing A Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet is a common problem that should be fixed ASAP. When left unfixed for long periods, a leaky faucet can cause your water bills to increase and make your home susceptible to rot and structural damage. You can easily fix a leaky faucet by replacing its washer, the circular rubber disk located inside your faucet. Start by tightening the base of your faucet first to see if the leaking stops. If it doesn’t, replace the washer with a brand new one. If the leaking still doesn’t stop even after putting a new washer, consider investing in a brand-new faucet. Most faucets available today come with installation kits, which means that you can install these on your own.
Practice Makes Perfect
As you can see, taking care of your home’s plumbing is easy and doesn’t always require professional help. In fact, you can resolve minor plumbing problems on your own using items that are already present in your home. Take the time to master the skills presented in this article. Once you’re fully equipped with these skills, you can enjoy a fully functional plumbing system for years without worrying about spending thousands of dollars!
