2 Simple Plumbing Repairs Many DIY Homeowners Can Do Without Much Hassle
Posted on: 29 July 2017
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It is easy to panic when you are facing a plumbing emergency in your home, but when know you can fix the problem yourself, you'll be able to remain calm and work easy. There are several DIY-friendly emergency plumbing repairs that homeowners can perform themselves. If you would like to know that these plumbing jobs are and how they can be performed, you should continue reading on:
Slow Draining
As the name suggests, slow draining takes place when the water that is flushed down the drain pipe seems to be draining slower than usual. Typically, this happens because of clogging within the drain pipes. Slow drains should be fixed immediately the homeowner detects that the problem. Leaving the problem unattended for a long time will only make things worse.
Most slow drains can be repaired by simply plunging with the correct plunger. Clogs in slow-draining kitchen and bathroom sinks can be effectively cleared with a standard rubber cup plunger. When it comes fixing blockages in toilet drains, DIYers will need to arm themselves with a flange plunger. The only difference between the cup plunger and the flange plunger is that the latter has a cone protruding from the inside of the rubber cup.
Plunging is easy — you simply form an airtight seal around the drain hole and move the plunger up and down while applying some force on the rubber cup every time you press the handle downwards. This process is repeated until the drain begins to flow normally.
Slow-Dripping Water Pipes
Slow-dripping water pipes might not seem like a big issue, but if not repaired immediately, they can translate into the loss of several litres of water, which you'll have to pay for at the end of the month. If you notice that you have slow-dripping water pipes in your home, you should first mark the trouble spots and then cut off the water supply at the main shut-off valve.
To fix the leak spots, you can apply a sealing compound or wrap the affected areas with rubber patch. Once the repair work is complete, turn on the water check whether or not the leaking has stopped. If leaking persists, it will be best to immediately call in an emergency plumber.
As you can see, you can be your own plumber when you are faced with minor plumbing emergencies like the ones discussed above. But if you do not feel confident about performing the repairs yourself, you can always ask a professional plumber do them for you.