Plumbing Repairs That Don’t Require a Plumber
Posted on August 9, 2017 by oozle
We all know how frustrating it can be when a pipe leaks, a pipe bursts, or you have a clogged drain. No one wants to deal with these simple household problems, and you likely would rather fix them yourself. There are a few plumbing problems that are easy to fix. We’ll even tell you how to do it!
Clogged Drain
Clogged drains are a huge pain when they come up. There’s nothing worse than getting into your morning shower only to have your feet covered in soapy water within minutes. There are a few causes of clogged shower drains. If it is hair, which is the most common source, try these quick fixes:
- Pour boiling water down the drain and wait
- Use a store-bought drain unclogger (you can find liquid uncloggers here)
- Use a drain snake to pull or push the hair out
- Take the cover off and use a plunger
- Call a plumber – plumbers have the necessary tools to remove a clog and keep your pipes intact and running smoothly
Leaky Pipe
Leaky pipes are incredibly frustrating. So before you set up the buckets, try a few of these methods. However, these are only temporary fixes and you should still call a plumber for leaky pipes. A plumber will be able to fix your pipe, prevent future leaks, and prevent future expenses. Here’s a few steps to take to fix it for the time being:
- Turn off your water supply (this is found on the outside of your home or near your water heater and is a simple turn knob)
- Run the water to drain any excess in the pipe
- Clean it off and apply a sealant such as RectorSeal (allow to dry completely before moving on)
- Apply tape to the sides of the sealant (this will provide extra protection)
- Test the pipe by turning the water back on
- Call a plumber
Slow Flow or No Flow
Sometimes you won’t find a leak or a damaged pipe, but the water flow is significantly or entirely reduced. This can be caused by a few different things: water supply shutoff, grease or oil in the pipes, tree roots blocking the pipes, bellied pipes, and collapsed pipes. To remedy this issue you need to:
- Locate the source of the backup – this can be anywhere along the line of water flow, so check with your neighbors, check your own water supply valve, etc.
- Once you’ve figured it out, see if you can rectify it – clean the section of pipe, replace the section of pipe, or turn the water back on (Check out the blog next month to find a detailed explanation of how to do these tricks yourself)
- Call a plumber – unfortunately, this is not an issue that is easily rectified without the proper equipment or know-how, so check for a simple fix, and if the problem is from tree roots or bellied/collapsed pipes, call a plumber
Running Toilet
A running toilet is when your toilet water is constantly running, or cycling on and off without prompt. This is extremely frustrating as it’s a waste of water, and can be loud enough to keep you awake at night. This is usually a simple problem to fix. Try these tips:
- Shut the water supply off so you can figure out the issue
- Check the flapper – Take the lid off the tank, push down on the flapper when you hear the water running, and listen for it to stop
- Replace the flapper – you can learn how to do this here
- Call a plumber – plumbers are able to both replace the flapper, and dig deeper to see if there is a separate issue
Hopefully you don’t have to employ any of these tactics to fix your home plumbing. Unless you feel comfortable fixing things yourself, it is always better to call a plumber for any plumbing needs. It is also always better to keep up on regular plumbing and pipe maintenance rather than have to fix a huge problem later. Contact ProServ at 702-656-4500, or check us out here.
Categories: ProServ
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