Pulling up the Sleeves: 5 Home Plumbing Jobs You Can Attempt to Do Yourself

Pulling up the Sleeves: 5 Home Plumbing Jobs You Can Attempt to Do Yourself 1

Plumbing issues can be complicated to fix, and many do require the services of a trained professional plumber. There are times, however, where it is worth it to give a go yourself, save some money, and learn a bit about your home in the process. As with anything else in your home, if anything doesn’t go as planned with these repairs then the next step is to call in the experts.

Leaky Faucets

The first step in preparing for any DIY plumbing project is to have a properly equipped toolbox. The following list should cover the basics and get your set up for most of these jobs: an adjustable wrench, a screwdriver, a set of pliers, a utility knife, some plumbing tape, and a caulking gun. There may be a few specialty tools needed in certain situations, but you can deal with that if the situation arises.

A slow drip on a faucet is usually as simple as replacing a washer. The trickiest part of this repair is getting faucet taken apart. Use YouTube videos to help you with the exact make and model for your faucet, and realize that loosening the fittings on a faucet is going to take a bit of extra elbow grease. Also, make sure that the water is all turned off before beginning this adventure.

Installing a Faucet

This is one of those Plumbing Services that many people tend to call in the experts for right away. Whether you are looking to replace a faulty faucet, or you just want to change up the look of the current faucet, this is a project you can handle on your own. A great tip when purchasing the new faucet is to bring the old one into the store with you. This will ensure that the new faucet will be compatible with the setup of your sink. If you can take apart the old faucet, then you can get the new one installed just as easily.

Clogged Drain

It is as important to know what causes a clogged drain as it is to know how to fix one. A step that many people take is to dump drain cleaner down the sink or tub and assume the problem is solved. These products can actually cause damage to pipes over time, and they are strictly a temporary fix. Using hair catchers on drains in sinks and tubs is a great method to keep the drains clear. You can use a plunger or a cable snake to unclog any drain in the home. It is also good to use a combination of vinegar and baking soda to regularly keep drains clean.

Upgrade a Shower Head

This is quite honestly the easiest of the DIY projects on the list because it requires very little effort and very little plumbing knowledge. The newer style shower heads are built to be “low flow” which means they can save up to 30% of the water that an older showerhead might use.

Installing a New Toilet

This project will take you from the easiest on the list to the most difficult. Getting an old toilet out can be a challenge, but keep working at it and you’ll get it done. The key to putting in a new toilet is getting a proper seal with the wax ring that sits under the base of the toilet. Getting a new toilet is another way to conserve water, get something more comfortable and a unit that is going to flush much more powerfully.

There are many plumbing projects that are not worth taking on yourself, but this list provides you with a few that anyone can manage. Doing these projects yourself will save money, and help you build some knowledge about plumbing basics around your home.

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