How To Fix Common Plumbing Problems In Your Home
Your plumbing system works day and night to deliver water to your household. This system works hard behind the scenes, and a lot of times, it is taken for granted until something goes wrong, like a leak. Many problems can be fixed easily if they are detected early. Read this article for some practical tips on fixing the most common plumbing problems.
Everyone has experienced a clogged drain. This is caused by obstructions in the drain pipes, like your hair, food debris, or any type of foreign object that got washed down the drain. When you notice that water is draining very slowly, it is a sign that there is a clog.
The first solution you should try is to fish the obstruction out with a plumbing snake. This is a long and flexible tool that you insert down the drain and manipulate until the blockage is caught by the snake. When it is caught, you just pull it back out.
If the snake does not work, then you can try using a chemical drain opener. You should be very careful in following the instructions on the label because this chemical is corrosive. Usually, you leave the chemical in the clogged drain for the specified amount of time to allow the chemical to dissolve the blockage. Then, you run water down the drain to flush the materials down. If this method does not work, do not overuse it. You may have to resort to take the pipes apart. At this point, it may be better to call in plumber if you are not familiar with how to do it. If you do it wrong, you may end up damaging your pipes and make the problem worse.
If your toilet continues to run after every flush, the problem is probably due to the flapper in the toilet tank not closing properly. Just open up the tank and find the flapper. Adjust its position to close it properly. Over time, a build-up of mineral deposits can accumulate around the lip of the flapper, preventing a tight seal. You can clean this off by give the flapper a light scrub. Turn off the water to the toilet and drain the tank before you do this.
Mineral deposits can also accumulate on your shower head, gradually reducing your water flow during a shower. You can clean this by removing the shower head and soaking it in some vinegar overnight. The next morning, just rinse off the shower head, and you will notice a better shower flow.
If you have faucet that constantly drips water, you may need to replace the washer inside the fixture. Turn the water off off and take apart the faucet. Find the washer and take it to your hardware store. Find a washer in exactly the same size, then replace it when you get home.
Some plumbing problems can be fixed easily if you know how. Just remember that when the job becomes too complex, do not take the risk of doing it yourself; call a professional instead.
