Do It Yourself Plumbing Repair

Do it yourself plumbing repair is something many homeowners can tackle on their own. The plumbing within any business includes all water lines, waste pipes and all other connections within the home. Repairs to these areas can be done successfully with some basic knowledge of plumbing and tools from most home improvement stores. A professional should tackle larger or more complex problems and repairs.

There are some types of plumbing repair that are more common than others. Knowing how to repair these problems can help you to minimize the costs of calling on a professional plumber.

A common problem happens when anything gets into a drain and stops it from draining properly. This commonly happens in bathroom and kitchen sinks and in shower or tub drains. To unclog most of these drain problems, don't use a drain cleaner. Some drain cleaners are caustic and can easily injury an individual's eyes and skin.

Instead, try other methods that are safer, first.

• Use a plunger to force air or water down into the drain to dislodge the clog.

• Turn off the water at the source and remove the U bend pipe. This is the location of most clogs. Place a pan under the drain to catch water. Then, remove the pipe by twisting at the connection point. This can get messy! Remove the clog in the pipe and replace. Seal with plumber's tape.

• Prevent additional clogs by pouring one-half cup of baking soda along with one-half cup of warm vinegar down the drain monthly. This will remove or loosen debris lining the pipes.

If these steps do not work, you may need to contact a plumber to find out where the clog is. If there is a significant back up of water and debris, the main drain line of the home or building may be clogged, requiring professional snaking.

Another common problem that individuals have with plumbing is a leak. Leaky faucets are not only annoying when they drip at night, but they can be costly. You can lose a significant amount of money per year from a faucet that has even a very slow drip.

There are several steps to take to find out what the problem is and to stop this common plumbing problem.

• Spot the leak at its source. If the water is coming from the faucet, you likely need to remove and replace the nut and washer located at the base of the faucet's handle. Turn off the water at the source, remove the nut and washer and replace.

• If the leak is coming from under the sink, such as from one of the drain pipes, there may be a clog that needs to be removed or the fitting may be lose. If the fitting is loose, tighten securely and use plumber's tape to protect the leak further.

One of the keys to being a homeowner is to know what types of tasks the average individual can repair themselves and which tasks require a plumber. Do it yourself plumbing repair is a possibility in many cases, including the following repairs:

• Repairing a toilet leak or performing tune ups
• Installing or replacing a shower fixture and spray hose
• Installing a filtration system on your kitchen sink
• Maintaining the hot water tank
• Performing maintenance on pipes in the home
• Replacing fixtures at the kitchen and bathroom

Problems and repairs that require extensive repairing should be handled by a professional. Call a professional right away if you are experiencing problems with large leaks and flooding, a hot water tank that's not working, or pipes that have burst.

For immediate help in these situations, contact your local water company, too. They may offer some help for emergencies. Most cities also maintain the water and sewer lines going from the main lines to your home. Before doing repairs on these systems, contact your local agency first.

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