In the 21st century, the price of plumbers can be astronomical compared to how it was many years ago. With such high prices for private contractors, it is no surprise many people are going out of their way to try and fix their own plumbing problems. However, as the ordinary layman is not usually well versed in the intricate trade of plumbing, oftentimes they can cause further irreparable damage or not fix anything at all.
With so much potential room for error, it is important that when you are exercising any plumbing yourself at home you know exactly what you are doing:
Know When to Get a Contractor
Yes, while doing it yourself is cheaper and easier, sometimes you may have to relent. If the problem is massive, such as a broken-down boiler or broken pipes, it is recommended you consult a professional or read this website, as you can make things a lot worse. Sometimes it is better for you, your home, and your family, if you put your pride aside and leave it to the professionals.
A Dripping Faucet
At the top of our list is dripping faucets. Dripping faucets are so common that it is almost unheard of to find a house without one! Dripping faucets can be considerably irritating, especially when trying to sleep and all you can hear is the incessant dripping of a leaky tap, and not only that, it can cost you money! A single leaking faucet can drip and waste hundreds of gallons of water for an entire year! For the most part, an internal washer is to blame when it comes to leaky faucets; a washer that has become stiff, worn, or dislodged, or rusted. Fixing the washer is easily done by the layman with only the right number of tools.
You can start by taking the tap handle off and unscrewing the washer from inside. Replace the washer with the one you have purchased earlier, then place the lid of the tap. Job’s a gooden!
Slow Draining Sink
Ordinarily, the catalyst for a slow draining sink is a blockage restricting the ordinary water flow. Your kitchen sink may contain things like rice, grease, congealed fat, and food. If the blockage takes place in a bathroom sink it is ordinarily make-up, waste products, and hair. Cleaning a clogged sink can be downright difficult, but with a few tools and products, it can be done by anybody!
The first thing you want to do is to try some drain cleaner or vinegar. Do not use interchangeably as drain cleaner and vinegar can often cause a caustic reaction and could potentially poison you. It is recommended you only use one or the other. If the drain cleaner does not work, then you can lease a drain hoover which you can put into the drain pipe and it will suck all of the gunk out of the drainpipe.
A Blocked-Up Toilet
If your toilet bowl fills up and begins overflowing it means that you have a clog. Toilet clogs are often the easiest plumbing issue to correct, you can fix a toilet blockage with a plunger, sewer snake, or a drain auger.
Types of Pipe Problems
Galvanized pipes are not much of a problem anymore, but when they strike, they are a big problem. Galvanized pipes occur when the zinc of the pipe erodes, leading to corrosion and breakage. When the pipe is damaged, the water pressure deteriorates, and leakages can get into your water. Another problem was with polybutylene pipes, which were common in homes built from the late 70s to the late 90s. These pipes react with the oxidants in the water and corrode terribly over time. The way to solve these problems is to completely replace the pipes with more modern ones.
Pipe bellies, overtime, shift around, and cause the pipes to buckle. These often interrupts the ordinary water flow and can cause your taps to not run at all. Another problem may be old fixtures, which are original fixtures put in place when the house was built and can become compromised over the years and be rendered redundant.
Sometimes the source of your plumbing problems is simple and weighs heavily on previously bad repairs or subpar repairs made to your home before you lived there. The quality of your home’s earlier repairs can be detrimental to the overall condition of your home. It is quite common for new homeowners or tenants to find cheap and botched repairs made to their homes and it can often cost them in the excess of thousands.
For this reason, whenever you hire an independent contractor, you must do your research and get the best you can afford to avoid any potential mishaps occurring with your plumbing and your water.
