Yes, any average Joe or Jane can fix those minor plumbing issues if they simply take some time to learn about the problem and the solution. Far too many people believe that plumbing issues are too difficult to tackle, and thus they put off minor fixes until they become major problems. The end result is hiring a plumber for thousands of dollars when a few bucks and a few hours would have settled the problem to begin with.
Did your pipes freeze up during a harsh, cold winter night? Well, that's no problem at all. It's only a problem if you leave them frozen. Try running some boiling water down your drain and using a blow dryer or space heater to thaw out those pipes. For future reference, make sure to insulate the pipes properly.
If a faucet is leaking on you, it might only need to be tightened up some. Of course, this depends on where it's leaking exactly. If it's a problem inside of the faucet, then you might not be able to fix it without replacing it. But if it's a problem with the connections, just remove them, wrap them in plumber's tape, and tighten them up again. This should solve this particular issue.
One of the easiest ways to replace your sink and shower fixtures is to make sure that you have the right size replacement. How do you do this exactly? Well, a great way to try is to remove the faucet and lug it with you to the Home Depot, Lowes or any other similar store. Not only will you get the right size, but your repair is halfway done.
A slow drain can be really annoying, and your natural inclination may be to start dumping harsh chemicals down it to free up those clogs. However, you should try some natural methods first. Try mixing some hot water with bleach and see if you can eat away at whatever is slowing your drain down.
Toilet issues plague almost everyone, as toilets receive a lot of wear and tear and break down rather easily. A good way to ensure you're always prepared to fix your toilet is to check out a site like eHow to see how the inside of a toilet functions. Once you get the gist, you'll understand what to do to keep it running smoothly.
You might think that shutting off your water supply is simple, and this could lead to some flooding. This is due to the fact that most people just cut off the valve directly supplying water to a particular fixture. However, you should also cut off your home's main water supply for the duration of your repairs.
Most of the plumbing problems you'll face can be easily handled, but some are going to require the experts. If you have busted pipes, flooding, or other issues you cannot handle on your own, make sure you get the experts in there to help.
Everyone is going to experience some plumbing issues in their lifetime. The important thing is to handle them quickly before they spiral out of the control. Using the information above as your guide, you should be able to tackle some of the easy, everyday plumbing problems.