When you’re a homeowner, your budget is usually tight. A hefty mortgage, rising energy costs, soaring property taxes, constant repairs and maintenance. And, of course, the occasional plumbing mishap that can ruin an entire evening, or even a weekend. This is why so many property owners decide to embrace the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement when it comes to plumbing.
Indeed, plumbers would rather much prefer that you hire a professional to fix your toilets, kitchen sinks and pipes. However, if you are dead set on trying to remedy these matters yourself, then plumbers don’t want to disappoint you.
Major jobs should always include a plumber, but if you have quick and easy repairs, then there is no harm in grabbing a plunger, a wrench and a bucket to get the job done yourself.
Here are five DIY tips plumbers will always give you:
1. Be Sure to Shut Off Main Water Valve
Whenever you begin to work on a plumbing job, the very first thing you should do is to shut off the main water valve. This will ensure that you won’t have tremendous leaks or even worse: flooding! And that will definitely require a call to your local plumber!
2. Reduce Those Loud & Creaking Pipes
No, your home isn’t haunted. And, no, your home doesn’t suffer from a pest problem.
Therefore, those loud and creaking noises aren’t anything but the pipes themselves. It may be a nuisance or it may keep you up at night. Whatever the case may be, you can reduce these loud and creaking sounds by utilizing one or two things: expanding foam or wrap pipes in adhesive-backed felt.
You will immediately notice the difference once you apply one of these solutions.
3. A Drain Vacuum Will be of Assistance
We know. You were brushing your teeth over the toilet (we won’t ask) and your toothbrush fell down the drain. This is on top of your comb falling down the toilet earlier this week. Last year, you dropped your wedding ring!
If this is the norm in your household, then you should take advantage of a drain vacuum.
Aside from returning these items to their proper place, it also prevents any plumbing problems that may arise from these solid objects going through the pipes.
So, grab a drain vacuum, suck out the water and retrieve the item in question.
4. Be Careful What You Put Down Drains
In the bathroom, it’s hair. In the kitchen, it’s chicken bones. In the basement sink, it’s wood shavings. This isn’t good for the plumbing in the least. Whether it is the garbage disposal in the kitchen or the shower drain, you need to be careful what you put down the drains.
5. Plunger, Bucket, Gloves, Done
In the end, you may not necessarily need advanced tools, strong acumen or to even roll up your sleeves. Nope. You just need a plunger, bucket and a pair of gloves.
Here is what you need to do for your toilet, for instance:
- Take the water and objects out of the toilet with your gloves.
- Fill your bucket with hot water.
- Plunge the toilet for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Pour the hot water down the toilet.
Voila! A toilet in great working condition.
By saving a few bucks, many homeowners decide to rectify any plumbing problems on their own. A simple Google search, a couple of tools (plunger and bucket) and a little bit of luck, they will try to channel their inner plumber and solve the problems. This may be OK for a simple plumbing job like a clogged drain. However, if there is a flood occurring, then it would be a good idea to hire a professional plumber.
