Your plumbing has failed you, and you need it fixed quickly, so why not fix it yourself? You will need to call a professional for those significant plumbing issues, but this is not one of those times. This time, you will grab some tools, roll up your sleeves, and fix the problem yourself.
What if it is a leaking pipe?
First, you need to consider whether a water supply line is leaking or a drain line. If a supply line is leaking, you will have to shut the water off to the affected area or the entire house. Secondly, you will have to cut the section out and replace it. Supply line leaks can be hazardous and calling a professional should be considered before attempting a major or complex repair yourself.
If a drain is leaking, particularly under a sink, the joints of these drains screw together. You can start by tightening the joint by hand, where the leak is taking place. If that does not fix the issue, there is a rubber gasket inside the joint that helps it seal, and the fix may be as easy as replacing that gasket.
What if it will not drain?
Do you have a sink, tub, or toilet that will not drain? The easiest thing to try first is to use a plunger. Plungers are customarily associated with bathrooms, but they create a suction/pushing force on the drain that can be effective on clogs in other locations. You may need to move up to a drain snake if a plunger does not work. A small drain snake is a metal or sometimes plastic rod that can be fed down into the clogged drain to try and break up the clog.
Will your toilet not stop running?
A running toilet may make you see dollar signs as it raises your water bill. Luckily for you, this is usually an easy fix. If you pull the lid off the back of your toilet where it stores the water, you will see a round disk in the bottom that has a chain attached to it. This is the mechanism that causes your toilet to flush. When you push down the handle, it pulls the chain lifting the rubber disk and allowing the water to flow past and into your toilet bowl, flushing your toilet. Sometimes the chain can get caught under this disk, causing water to leak past slowly. This means the chain will need to be shortened. Another possibility is that the disk has become damaged and will need to be replaced. These are easily changed and sold at most big-box retail stores.
Are your warm showers getting shorter?
If you are running out of water prematurely, it could be sediment in your water heater. This is caused by an excessive amount of minerals in your water supply. Once they flow into your water heater, they will sink to the bottom and slowly build up over time.
To fix this, you will have to find the valve at the bottom of the water heater; it looks like an outside faucet. You can connect a garden hose to this valve and drain the water from your water heater. This may remove the sediment if there is not too much buildup. It may be necessary to remove the valve entirely and flush the water heater out to remove the deposit. If you have a newer water heater, it is recommended that you do this at least once a year to prevent buildup.
Time to save some money
Now that you have some basic knowledge of what to do, you can fix your minor plumbing issues. This not only saves you some money, but it means your plumbing is set on your schedule. There is no waiting around for a service tech to show up.
Call a professional plumber if a plumbing issue is too complicated or if it seems like you might be in danger of making it worse. Having a professional doing it will give you the confidence and assurance that it has been done correctly. Call Restore Pipe Systemsnow, and we will serve you in the best way.
