Every household has experienced water leaks and other plumbing issues from time to time. A Long Beach plumber could save you thousands of dollars in water damage. There are many things homeowners can do that will fix minor issues and help to prevent more serious ones.
Make sure you know where the Shut Off Valves are
This is the most important rule in DIY plumbing. Water leakage can cause serious damage to your whole house including cracked pipes and gaskets that are not working properly.
If your neighbor is below your apartment in a multi-story building, water can quickly reach their home and cause serious damage. The shut-off valves must be addressed first, before any plumbing work. It depends on where you live. An access panel is often installed under the kitchen sink, or near the bathroom toilet to cover apartment shut-off valves.
Don’t ignore minor leaks
It is common for kitchen and bathroom faucets to leak after a while. Even if nobody is home, this can happen.
Many of these leaks are easily fixed by homeowners, without the need for professional assistance. If the problem continues, it is best to call a professional Long Beach plumber for a solution. This could cause more damage to your plumbing system or increase your monthly bill.
Be Careful Not to Puncture Pipes
Doing home improvements that aren’t related to plumbing, such as drilling holes or nailing walls, can cause a water line to burst and cause significant damage. Before you attempt to puncture any pipes in your home, make sure there aren’t any under walls, ceilings or floors.
If you don’t have floor plans, pipes may be hidden behind walls. A studfinder is a magnetic device that locates metal frames behind walls. Photographs are a great idea before covering any plumbing or electrical lines in walls, floors, and ceilings. It will be possible to prevent them from happening again, and you won’t have to worry about hitting a wire accidentally or bursting a tube.
Minor maintenance and repairs can be done by you
Failure to do so can lead to serious damage. You can make small repairs quickly and cheaply without spending a lot of time under the sink.
The most common DIY plumbing job is the toilet flapper. This is a rubber piece that covers the toilet tank’s valve and allows water to flow through it when you flush. This allows water to flow into the bowl through the valve.
Flappers can become worn over time and allow water to seep into the bowl. It is common to replace a faucet in your home.
Usually, the faucet hole is located in one to three holes of the sink. If you’re not sure where the faucet hole is located, you can always bring it to the store.
Next, remove the screws holding the faucet in place using a wrench. Next, remove the old faucet and install a new one.
Make sure you have the right tools
Some home plumbing tips do not require tools. For example, changing the flapper of the toilet. Many of these tips require tools. However, an adjustable wrench is your first tool. This tool can be used to fix small or large pipes, as well as screws.
While you can buy special pipe wrenches and water pump pliers from your local hardware shop, most people are happy with a regular adjustable wrench.
A drain snake is an essential tool. For more severe clogs, a professional will need to remove them. The snake is made of a flexible steel cable that can be pulled into drains to remove any obstructions. Most homeowners find DIY plumbing intimidating. When water starts to drip from your kitchen faucet, turn off the water supply valve.