As a new homeowner, there are many things you may not know. One of those things could be plumbing repair. While you can go and get a professional plumber to come to your home, some jobs can be done yourself. We’ll be covering four basics you need to know in order to keep your home plumbing in tip-top shape.
Essential Tools
Before you begin to fix the plumbing in your home, you are going to need some tools. A few tools you most likely already have at your disposal are a plunger, heavy-duty rubber gloves and a tape measure. Additional tools to get would include a drain snake, pipe and basin wrenches, slip-joint pliers and thread seal tape. All plumbers carry these tools with them and so should you. All the tools mentioned can be found at your local hardware store.
Turning Off Your water
For this tip, we’ll be talking about shutting off the water to appliances, faucets and toilets. For appliances like a refrigerator or washing machine, the shut-off valve will be behind the appliance. Typically, the valve(s) is in an indented section in the wall connected to the appliance. For a refrigerator, there is only one valve, while a washing machine has two – one for hot and one for cold. Faucets have two shut-off valves, located directly under the sink. Toilets only have one, located on the wall underneath the toilet. Be sure to always turn the water off on the appliance, faucet or toilet you need to fix before starting.
How to Fix a Running Toilet
There are two common causes for a running toilet: a broken toilet filler valve and a worn-out toilet flapper. Both of these can easily be replaced. Before doing so, be sure to shut the water off on your toilet. To determine what is causing the issue, examine both the toilet filler and flapper for signs of wear and tear. Chances are the seal on the flapper isn’t working or the float cup on the filler is at the wrong level. It may be easier to just replace these parts as they are affordable and relatively easy to change.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Leaky faucets are usually caused by one of three things: mineral build-up, corrosion of parts or worn-out O-rings. Before attempting to fix your faucet, be sure to switch off the water. From there, start by removing the faucet handles, and inspect the valve stem or cartridge and O-rings inside for wear and tear. Both of these parts can be replaced and should help to prevent further leaking. If that doesn’t solve the issue, contact your local plumber.
Sometimes you may not be able to repair the problem yourself. If that is the case and you’re looking for plumbing repair in San Antonio, be sure to contact Mr. Plumber!
