Every household experiences water leaks or other plumbing problems from time to another. Hiring a Long Beach plumber can save you thousands in water damage. However, there are many things homeowners can do to fix minor problems and prevent major ones.
Be sure to know where the Shut-Off Valves are
This rule is the most important in DIY plumbing. In a matter of minutes, water leakage can cause severe damage to your entire house, including cracking pipes and faulty gaskets.
If you live in a multi story building, and your neighbors are below your apartment, the water can quickly reach them and cause damage to their property. It is possible to shut off your valves immediately in an emergency, which can mean the difference between a small pool and a flood-prone home.
As there is no running water in the pipes, the shut-off valves should be the first to be addressed before any other plumbing work. It all depends on where you live. They are typically located in the basement, or in a utility room. Apartment shut-off valves are often covered by an access panel under the kitchen sink or close to the bathroom toilet.
Do not ignore minor leaks
After a while, it is not unusual for bathroom or kitchen faucets to leak. The leaking faucets usually start with a small drop every few seconds, and then it gradually becomes more severe over time. Although it might not seem like a big problem, leaky faucets can seriously impact your water bill and cause water waste. A minor leak could become a major problem at an incontinence. This can happen when nobody is home.
Most of these leaks can easily be fixed by homeowners without professional assistance. Most leaks can be stopped by tightening the fittings. However, if the problem persists, you should call a professional Long Beach Plumber to find a solution. You could end up causing more damage or increasing your monthly plumbing bill.
Take Care Not to Puncture Pipes
Home improvement projects that aren’t related to plumbing such as drilling holes in walls or nailing the walls can cause a water pipe to burst, causing significant damage. You must ensure that there are no pipes underneath walls, ceilings, or floors in your home before you puncture them.
You may be able find pipes behind walls if you don’t have floor plans. A stud finder is a magnetic device used to locate metal frames behind walls. It is also a good idea, before you cover any electrical or plumbing lines in your walls, floors, or ceilings, to take photos. You’ll be able to prevent them from happening again and you won’t have to worry about accidentally hitting a wire or bursting a pipe.
You can do minor maintenance and repair operations by yourself
If you don’t do it right, changing pipes or faucets under your sink can cause serious damage. There are many small repairs that can be done quickly and inexpensively by you, without having to spend half an hour under the sink or filling your home with water.
The toilet flapper is one of the most common DIY plumbing jobs. The flapper, a piece made of rubber that covers the toilet tank’s flush valve, keeps the water inside. The flapper is a piece of rubber that lifts the valve when you flush. This allows water to flow through the valve and into the bowl.
Flappers can wear down over time, allowing water to leak into the bowl. It is usually easy to replace the flapper by simply buying a new one and replacing it. A common home plumbing task is to replace a broken faucet. You will need to identify the type of faucet that you have so that you can find the right one for you.
The faucet hole is usually located in one to three of the sink’s holes. However, if you aren’t sure about the location, you can always bring the faucet to the store with you. Turn off the water supply to the sink and disconnect the water lines under the sink.
Next, take out the screws that hold the faucet in place with a wrench. Then remove the old one and replace it. Connect the water supply lines to the faucet and then turn it on again.
Be sure to have the right tools
Some home plumbing tips don’t require tools, like changing the flapper on the toilet. However, many of them do. An adjustable wrench is the first tool you will need. It can be used for small and large pipes as well as screws.
Although you can find special pipe wrenches or water pump pliers at your local hardware store, most people will be satisfied with a regular adjustable wrench.
The drain snake is another essential tool. Every once in a while, your drain line in your bathtub or kitchen sink can become clogged by various debris. Minor clogs can usually be cleared with a plunger, or you can use chemical drain cleaners to clean the drain. However, more serious clogs will require a physical removal.
The snake is made up of a flexible steel cable, which can be pulled into the drain to break up any material blocking the pipes.
A majority of homeowners find DIY plumbing daunting. Some repairs, maintenance, or prevention operations can be done in a matter of minutes and could save you a lot of money. Turn off your water supply valve the next time water drips from your kitchen faucet.