Plumbing Repairs And The Homeowner

Leaking taps, broken water faucets, and clogged pipes don’t exactly paint a good picture in your mind, do they? These are fairly common plumbing problems and are the bane of every homemaker. You can have plumbing problems in any room of your house that has water pipes running through it. You could have a leaking tap in the kitchen or even a broken water faucet out side near the garden. Then of course there is also the common problem of clogged bathroom drains.

The most common places where plumbing problems tend to arise are bathroom sinks, bath tub drains, kitchen sinks, and clogged disposals and of course let’s not forget the ever popular backed up toilet. Each one of these situations has their own unique plumbing problems which must be dealt with in their own way. Some also should only be performed by a licensed plumbing professional, such as in the case of a clogged or otherwise malfunctioning disposal unit.

Usually when a plumbing repair is within the typical DIY project range, it will involve either replacing or repairing the defective piece in question. A leaking faucet is most commonly replaced, while some leaking pipes can either be tightened at a leaking joint, or a patching gel applied to the leaking area which pretty much renders it leak proof in that area.

Replacing a leaky faucet is a very common plumbing repair, and can be completed in less than an hour from start to finish. It is recommended that you remove the faucet and take it with you to the hardware store just to make sure you are getting a replacement that will fit back into the place of the old one.

You will find that the majority of faucets are removed from underneath the sink. You should start by turning off the water which is controlled by the valves on the water lines located under the sink. You’ll then need to turn on the faucet to let out any pressurized water. Unhook the water lines leading to the faucet. If you look under the sink at the bottom of the faucet you’ll see that there are two nuts, one on each side, which hold the faucet in place. Remove these and the washers which are underneath and set aside. Now you can get out from under the sink and remove the faucet by pulling up on it. Sometimes there may be a caulking sealant underneath which may provide some resistance, and sometimes there is a rubber gasket.

To install the new faucet, simply clean the top of the sink where the leaky faucet once sat, then slide the replacement faucet in it’s place. You should have received new washers with you new faucet, so place them on the threads and hand tighten. Go back up to the top of the sink to align the faucet so that it is straight, and then tighten the nuts. Hook the water lines up to the new faucet and turn the water back on. Check for leaks and enjoy!

When it comes to plumbing problems in general, the most common problem is a clog. Sometimes the clog can be removed by pouring drain cleaner down the pipes, and in some cases a drain snake may have to be used if it is a stubborn clog. For clogged toilets, the first place to start is the aptly named “plumber’s helper”, otherwise known as a plunger. If the plunger does not clear the clog, then it is time to move to the pipe snake and give it a try. If you still have a stubborn clog, then you will have to bite the bullet and call a plumber to check the pipes for you.

Plumbing repairs around the home can be simple or they can get really complicated. If you find a plumbing repair that you feel you can handle yourself, then by all means save your money by making it a DIY project.