Indoor plumbing is a great convenience, and it affects many areas of our home, from the kitchen to the bathroom. However, plumbing can cause some issues that can be hard to deal with. Hiring a professional plumber can get expensive, and waiting for the problem to go away could very well lead to you having to call for a house relocation – and dealing with moving companies and movers can be a much bigger bother. So here are 5 simple plumbing repairs you can do yourself to save some money and potential moving house-related troubles.
- Fix a running toilet. If your toilet doesn’t stop running, look inside the tank to see if the bulb is floating properly. If it isn’t, it may be loose. Tighten it with a screwdriver to have it working as good as new.
- Stop a leaky faucet. If one your faucets is leaking, you can use an Allen wrench to replace the washer and tighten the pipes so that the leaking water doesn’t further damage your home.
- Unclog a bathtub. If your bathtub is slow to drain or stops draining altogether, you can unclog it yourself using a plunger specifically made for sinks and tubs. Seal the plunger around the drain, and plunge until the water clears.
*NB* Both the problems above should be taken care of perfectly whenever you are facing them. Floods are always a serious problem that occasionally does lead to the need of forceful house removals. So unless you are actually planning a relocation and you do want to communicate to house movers more than necessary, do make sure you are not facing any of these.
- Retrieve items from a garbage disposal. If you accidentally drop silverware down the kitchen drain and into the garbage disposal, you can retrieve it on your own after following a few safety precautions. Shut off the power to the garbage disposal and shine a light into it to see the object to be retrieved. Use tongs to grab the item. Never put your hands into the garbage disposal.
- Install a new shower head. Most shower heads can be replaced by simply unscrewing the old one off and screwing the new one on.
If you try these techniques and the problem persists, it may be time to call in a professional. However, doing your own simple plumbing repairs can save you a lot of money in the long run. Especially if you do a repair that will save you the trouble of moving house. Treat your house as you would treat yourself and always make sure your plumbing is doing fine or beware the consequences.