Quick Do It Yourself Tips For Home Plumbing Repair
Household plumbing problems can often drive a homeowner insane. They see a small drip and simply cannot bring themselves to hiring a plumber to fix a leak they themselves cannot do. This actually leads to a massive loss of water, increased bills and eventually a sink that is forming mineral deposits that are destroying the finish of your basin. The truth is that yes, a plumber can be expensive however small plumbing issues do not require one as you can make the repairs yourself. This article will give you some ideas as to what you can do to fix the most common plumbing issues so continue reading to learn more.
The first thing you need to do is purchase a few tools to ensure you can get the job done. You need a screwdriver set with varying sized Phillips and standard flat head drivers. A wrench set, combo open and closed end will be fine in SAE sizes. A cheap 3 piece pipe wrench set and a set of adjustable wrenches are recommended as they have a size for every job and finally if you have the funds, a how-to book on plumbing repairs. These tools should get you started and complete most tasks.
If you notice a leaking faucet, in this example we'll go with the bathtub, you need to turn off the water to the cold and hot faucets as we want to replace washers or o-rings in both handles at the same time. Once the cold water and valve on hot water tank are closed you can turn on the faucet to drain any remaining water in pipes. Pop off the screw cover on the decorative handle and unscrew it from the piece known as the stem. You are now going to use a wrench to remove the entire stem from where it screws into the pipe. At the base of this is a washer or rubber ring. It should be perfectly flat and round. Any grooves, tears, or dry rotting means it is bad and should be replaced. These are sold in assorted packs at most stores. You unscrew the old washer and place the new one on. Screw the stem back into place and tighten it down. Replace the handles next and turn on the water. The drip will no longer be there and you now know how to do this on any sink in your home.
The removal tips listed above also work for the shower or those that have a drip from the shower head itself. In most cases you will have a third knob or even a pull stop on the faucet itself to release water into the shower head. The third handle will be identical to changing washers on the hot or cold side. If it happens to be on the faucet itself, remove the fossil by unscrewing it from the pipe. Be careful not to damage the finish when using a wrench or something similar. You can then see the stop mechanism and remove the pull stop by popping off the retaining ring. You will then be able to remove the mechanism and replace it.
The tips listed above will solve most of the common leaks in your home and despite how the article reads; it is super easy to do. Remember to make sure you have the proper tools on hand and always turn off the water to the area that you will be working on. You have now discovered how to eliminate the need for a professional plumber when it comes to simple plumbing issues in the home.
