When you own a home, as the phrase goes, it’s always something. Whether it’s your oil burner, your air conditioner, or your bathroom faucet, it sometimes feels like if it’s not one thing that breaks down, it’s another.
When you’re experiencing a plumbing issue, you don’t always have to resort to calling in the professionals right away. There are sometimes quick fixes you can do yourself to save a few dollars and fix the problem rather quickly. Plus, it always feels great to fix something on your own.
What follows is a list of nine DIY plumbing tips you should know if you own a home. If, however, you do not feel comfortable taking on your own plumbing, or if the problem is more severe, don’t worry. Plumbing by Jake is here to help. Just give us a call at (928) 377-5910 to schedule a service call.
Tip #1: Prolong the Life of Your Faucets
Did you know you can prolong the life of your faucets in your bathroom and kitchen simply by not over-tightening them? When you close your taps too tightly, you can wear out and break the seal, causing a leak.
Tip #2: Plunge Your Toilet Without the Overflow
The next time your toilet backs up, do not plunge it while the water is at its highest. Wait until the water level goes down as low as it will go, then use the plunger. You are more likely to unblock the clog that way. Then, pour a bucket of water into the bowl to control how much water the toilet flushes and prevent overflow.
Tip #3: Avoid Puncturing Your Pipes
When you need to drill a hole in the wall, floor, or ceiling, first check that there are no pipes in the area where you are about to drill. Otherwise, you risk puncturing the pipes and causing a flood within the wall. And you never want to risk water damage.
Tip #4: Do Not Use Your Toilet as a Garbage Can
You would be surprised at the things people try to flush. Before you discard something down your toilet, find out if you can flush it or if you should just throw it out. Google it if you have to. This will save you money and stress on plumbing visits due to clogged toilets and overflows.
Tip #5: Do Not Use Your Kitchen Sink as a Garbage Can
The same advice from tip #4 applies here. Do not just throw anything down your kitchen sink, especially grease, coffee grinds, or food debris. Over time, this stuff all cakes together to make a disgusting sludge that ultimately clogs your pipes.
Tip #6: Invest in a Shop Vacuum
As a homeowner, you will find a wet-dry vac to be a lifesaver. Not only is it great for cleaning up both wet and dry messes (like when your kid spills his full bowl of cereal and milk on the kitchen floor), but you can also use it to suck out clogs from your toilet and sinks.
Tip #7: Quiet Your Double Sink
If you have a sink with two basins, you can use expanding foam to fill the space between them on the bottom to reduce some of the noise and vibrations it makes. You can do this while the sink is already in place, but it is much easier to do this before installing it, if possible.
Tip #8: Check for Leaks After Any Plumbing Fix
If you tend to work on your own plumbing, always check for leaks before you call it a day. To do this, run water through the pipe, then open and close all your valves and drains. Sure, it makes the job last longer if you need to re-do it, but this is a better alternative to suffering water damage and increased utility bills later on.
Tip #9: Never Ignore a Leak
A dripping tap is more than an annoyance — it is a call for help. Leaks do not get better on their own. Once you find that a tap is dripping, call a plumber right away before the problem gets worse, because it will. Not only that, but you are paying for gallons of water that are dripping down your drain every day.
For All Your Plumbing Needs, Plumbing by Jake Is Here!
If you have tried to do it yourself, and the DIY approach is just not cutting it, Plumbing by Jake can help. Frankly, there are some plumbing issues you should not approach yourself unless you have experience in this area. For those issues, there’s Plumbing by Jake.
Give us a call at (928) 377-5910 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We know plumbing emergencies don’t happen on a schedule, so we are always available to help. Don’t neglect a plumbing emergency — it will only get worse. Call Plumbing by Jake today!
