Avoid Expensive Plumbing Problems in 6 Ways
Hack your way out of expensive plumbing repairs
Have you ever wondered how you could have saved some money from plumbing services? If you are confident to handle it on your own, here are six (6) simple ways on how to fix and maintain your plumbing with minimal cost:
1. Unblocking your toilet
This one could get messy.
With the right dose of hot water and dish soap, your problem will go down the drain. Follow these simple steps and you’ll flush your worries away:
a. Get a hot cup of water with dish soap
b. Stop the flow of water by closing the shut-off valve behind your toilet
c. Pour both the dish soap and hot water into your toilet bowl
d. “By a flush,” the magic unfolds as your worries go down the drain
2. Filthy and Foul Toilet Bowl?
When you have somebody over at your place and your toilet throne doesn’t look as dignified as you, what do you do?
Meanwhile, this could mean that there has been some mineral buildup already from the water coming into your house through time. With a toilet cleaner and sandpaper, you can make your toilet shine along with your dignity:
a. Wash your throne with a toilet cleaner and rinse it.
b. Get your 2000 Grit Wet and Dry sandpaper.
c. Gently scrub the stain marks with it.
d. Rinse with water and toilet cleaner (optional), then viola!
3. Fixing a running toilet
The one where your toilet would take forever to fill up its tank or notice that it flushes randomly–as it creeps the living crap out of you.
It can only mean one thing, the flapper inside your toilet tank has worn off and it needs replacing. A replacement flapper could be bought from your local hardware store. Follow the simple steps below to fix this toilet-tastrophe:
a. Close the shut-off valve behind your toilet
b. Remove the lid off of your toilet tank
c. Flush the water and wait for it to drain completely
d. Remove the old flapper by unclipping it from the base of the toilet and removing the chain that links it to the flush handle
e. Once removed, you can place the new one and fill the tank again with water by opening the shut-off valve.
f. Try out your new flapper and flush your toilet.
4. Clogged Sink Drain Plumbing Repairs
There’s no need to call in a plumber to fix this one. All you need to do is get yourself some vinegar and baking soda. Just as helpful as removing food stains from your shirt, these two kitchen essentials can also unclog your sink drain. This is how:
a. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and 1 cup of vinegar b
b. Cover the drain immediately, and you will hear it fizzle
c. After 10-15 minutes, remove the drain cover and pour hot water down the sink drain
d. The chemical reaction caused by the baking soda and vinegar will help break down the food trapped in your drain.
You may also have to remember to not pour oil down the drain or reinforce it with hot water to avoid clogged pipes.
5. Prevent Drain Clogs
Ok, so the steps we provided in number three (3) was to help you fix your drain when it clogs. But what about preventing that same problem from happening again?
We got you covered. Here’s a simple maintenance hack to avoid your drains from clogging and dodge this small problem from turning into a full-blown plumbing disaster:
a. Go to your nearest local hardware store and buy some durable, stainless-steel mesh strainers. Make sure it fits in your drain, or you will have to make multiple trips just to obtain the correct size.
b. Pop them over your drains, and let that thing catch hair and other things that cause your pipes to clog.
c. Once a week, or if you notice that the mesh is full, clean it out or replace it before you pop it over to your drain.
6. Deodorize your Garbage Disposal Unit
Imagine walking into your kitchen in the morning to prepare your breakfast, and before you even got a sip of that hot coffee, you’re smelling this unpleasant aroma coming from your kitchen sink—causing your brain to go into high gear.
That could only mean that your garbage disposal unit stinks. It’s likely caused by rotting food debris in the pipes. But, there’s no need to call your plumber just yet. Try deodorizing your garbage disposal unit and kitchen sink by religiously following these steps.
a. Put ice cubes down the disposal unit plus a healthy amount of lemon peel.
b. Run the disposal unit for about 30 seconds
c. Add a small amount of dish soap while it’s running.
It will make it easier for the blades to remove the debris with the soap while the lemon peel naturally deodorizes it.
If you can’t fix it, ask for Free Estimates
If professional plumbing repairs are needed, don’t hesitate to call the plumbing professionals. Sometimes, we can make the situation worse if we don’t ask for a helping hand. Although, it’s still worth a shot if we try to be Mr. Fixer or Ms. Handy.
Meanwhile, you can dodge the damage of expensive plumbing repairs by these DIY plumbing hacks. It’s not a biggy and would only cost you a bit of your time and a few bucks.
Although, through the interest of time, broken units can be out of your cap as it will need long term plumbing repairs. If this happens, don’t hesitate to call the professionals to avoid much bigger damages or more expensive plumbing repairs.
