Have a Few Plumbing Tricks Up Your Sleeve

There’s nothing more humiliating than having to admit you don’t know what to do in a plumbing emergency!

But freezing weather and home emergencies are all too common occurrences, and the damage they could cause can be catastrophic.

There are a few essential plumbing tips that all of us would find extremely useful at some stage in our lives, but how many of us take the time to find out what they are?

Because not every plumbing problem needs a professional…

We’ve all been there – suddenly, a water pipe bursts, and instead of dealing with it in a calm, measured way, we freak out, shrieking for someone to call a plumber as we don’t know how to deal with it ourselves.

But you could save hundreds of dollars by sorting the issues out yourself.

With the right tools, you too can become a plumbing pro – as long as you keep to the easy stuff…

The most critical piece of plumbing advice is, knowing how to switch off the primary water source!

Should your plumbing be unfortunate enough to freeze, you’ll have to cut off your water supply to make repairs.

For any plumbing jobs, knowing how to cut off your water supply is paramount.

All you have to do is switch off an indoor supply valve –it could be by the guilty culprit itself, such as next to the washing machine or drier.

Or, the big brass or redmain shutoff valve which is usually located near the main water pipe leading into your house.

Simply close the valve and your water supply to the individual fixture, or the whole house, should be shut off.

Put a bucket under the part you are going to repair to catch the excess water.

Run all taps and flush loos until all the water has run out.

Perhaps you have a leaky faucet?
A slow drip usually means that all you have to replace is a washer – easy as long as you have the right size!

There’s nothing more annoying than a clogged drain, which could have been caused by debris caught in your drainpipe.

You can fix this with a sink plunger or a cable auger, which you can wriggle down the drain.

But make sure you avoid putting chemicals down your drain as they can damage your pipes!
Instead, use baking soda or vinegar to clean the pipes and to rid of grease and dirt, which can cause blockages.

Another plumbing job you can tackle yourself is the de-clogging of your garbage disposal.

Just make sure you turn off the power of the disposal at the source before you attempt making any repairs.

If you want to save money, you can upgrade your showerhead and save yourself up to 30% on your monthly water bill!

Larger plumbing jobs you can do yourself, with just a bit of confidence, is installing a loo!

You can buy new toilets at any DIY store and follow the instructions.

The primary thing for installation is to ensure you get a proper seal, as without it being installed properly, it could end up as rather a smelly job…

With a bit of nuance and the right tools, you too can fix a few simple plumbing jobs around the house and save yourself a lot of money!