Homeowners take great pride in DIY projects, but plumbing is one area that’s best left to the professionals. It requires highly specific and specialized tools, and even a small mistake can lead to costly damage. Check out this website at https://www.platinumplumbingsbc.com/ for more information.
Taking steps to prevent problems with specific plumbing system components saves you money on repairs. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Clogged drains are a homeowner’s worst nightmare because they can cause wastewater or even sewage to back up into the home. The most common signs of a drain blockage include slow-draining sinks, bathtubs and showers; toilets that don’t flush properly; or the telltale gurgling sound as water runs down the drain. If left unattended, a clogged drain can lead to serious water and plumbing damage, and it can attract unwanted household pests like drain flies.
Clogs occur when solid debris — like food scraps, hair, grease and oil — builds up inside the pipes. Fortunately, you can often resolve these issues without calling a plumber.
For simple clogs, try using a DIY baking soda and vinegar solution. First, remove any standing water in the drain and then pour a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by an equal amount of white or apple cider vinegar. The chemical reaction should quickly break up most clogs. After letting it sit for about 15 minutes, run hot water down the drain to see if it has cleared. If it doesn’t, repeat the process.
If the clog is deeper, you may need to resort to a drain snake. To use this tool, remove the drain strainer and then look for a clean-out plug on the side of the drain basin. If you can’t find a plug, unscrew the drain cover with a wrench to access the drain pipe directly. If the clog is in a long drainpipe, you may need to rent a power auger to break up and clear the clog.
A clog is one of the most common home maintenance problems and can affect any fixture in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room. It’s important to address a clog right away because the longer you wait, the more likely it is that it will result in an expensive and difficult repair bill. To help you avoid these headaches, keep a tub of Bio-Clean on hand. It’s an all-natural product that introduces good bacteria into your plumbing system to eat away at the buildup and prevent future clogs. It’s also safe for septic systems and pipes, and won’t kill fish or harm pets.
Low Water Pressure
One of the most common reasons for low water pressure in your home is a leak in your pipes. Water leaks divert the flow of water to unintended areas before reaching the different fixtures in your home, causing lower pressure overall. If you suspect this is the case, turn off all your taps and locate your water meter. Write down the number, wait two hours, and return to check your meter again. If the number is higher than it was, you have a leak in your pipes that will need to be repaired by a plumber.
Another reason for low water pressure is mineral and sediment buildup in your pipes. This gunk can impede the flow of water and cause fixtures like showerheads to feel sluggish or even stop working altogether. To help alleviate this issue, use a water filter or a scale remover to rid your pipes of the buildup.
Water pressure can also be reduced by a combination of factors, including demand and supply. If you have a lot of people showering at the same time in your home, or using the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time, you’ll notice that your water pressure is lower than normal. This is because supply can’t meet demand at the same time, and the water has to be divided up between multiple fixtures.
If you notice low water pressure throughout your whole house, it’s likely the result of a city water valve that is closed, or partially shut off. You can check this by finding the meter valve, which should be located on an outside wall of your house near your water meter. Make sure this is completely open and if it isn’t, call your water company to have it fixed.
Leaks are hard to fix on your own, so the best thing to do is shut off your home’s main water supply and contact a plumber for repairs. If you have a major leak, try to find where the water is leaking from and seal it as best as possible.
Leaky Faucets
When your faucet is constantly dripping, it can really get annoying. And it can end up costing you a lot of money in water bills. The good news is that most leaky faucets can be fixed with some DIY plumbing tips. If you know what to look for, you can save some money by fixing the problem yourself instead of calling in a plumber.
Leaky faucets are often caused by worn-out or loose parts. The best way to determine the cause is to remove the handle and see what you can find. Once you’ve done this, you can then purchase replacement parts or a repair kit online or at your local hardware store. Before you start removing parts, make sure you turn off the water supply.
Once the handle is removed, you can then remove the screw that holds the faucet spout in place. This will allow you to take out the spout and stem. Then, you can replace the washer and O-ring, which are probably the cause of the leak. You’ll need to replace these with an exact match, so it’s a good idea to bring your old ones to the hardware store with you.
Another common reason for a leaky faucet is a broken seal on the outlet or inlet valve seat. These can wear out due to use or water sediment, which is why it’s important to check them frequently. Luckily, this is also an easy fix. You can replace the seals, which will stop your faucet from leaking.
Lastly, the packing nut or adjusting ring in the steam screw can become loose over time. This can also cause your sink handle to leak. You can tighten or completely replace this nut, which will stop the leak.
While these are some of the most common causes of a leaky faucet, there are many other reasons why your faucet might be leaking. If you can’t seem to figure out the cause, or if your DIY plumbing attempt fails, then it may be time to call in a professional plumber. You can use a tool like Frontdoor’s mobile app to chat with an Expert in your home for a real-time diagnosis and recommended next steps. They can even send vetted, local Pros to do the work if needed.
Sewer Backups
Sewage backups are a nightmare for homeowners. They pose a major health risk and they can cause extensive damage to the home’s interior. This is due to the fact that human waste contains harmful bacteria and airborne contaminants. As a result, direct contact with sewage or breathing in its fumes can lead to serious illnesses like Gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A and Salmonella.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to help prevent a sewer backup from happening in your home. In addition to preventing clogs by keeping hair, grease and foreign objects away from drains, you should also perform regular inspections of your home’s plumbing system to ensure that the pipes are in good condition.
If you spot any problems, you should take immediate action to prevent the problem from worsening. To do this, you should evacuate the impacted area of the house and make sure that nobody is in direct contact with the sewage. Moreover, you should shut off the power to any electrical appliances in the affected area as well as open windows and doors to allow the sewage to ventilate the area.
Some causes of a sewage backup are out of your control, such as problems with the city’s sewer system. However, there are other causes that you can avoid by following these DIY plumbing tips.
For instance, you should regularly inspect the exterior and interior plumbing of your home to ensure that there are no cracks or holes in the pipes. You should also replace any old and worn-out parts of the plumbing system.
In addition, you should keep an eye on your water bill to be able to detect any signs of a sewage backup early on. In the case of a sewer backup, you should immediately call a plumber for assistance. Doing so will not only save you a lot of money, but it will also ensure that your home is safe and healthy for everyone living there.