6 Beginners Guide to Simple Plumbing Tips that Everyone Should Know

Whenever there will be a dripping faucet or leaking shower, you will probably end up calling your local plumber to fix these problems, but if you know these tricks and tips, it will help you save hundreds of dollars!

So, here are some beginners tips that you can apply to your plumbing problems if you have got the right tools. However, you cannot fix tough plumbing problems but small clogs and leaks can often be fixed without calling professionals. Although, you should keep the plumber's number on your phone in-case encounter issue that you cannot solve. Hopefully, you will likely find that minor plumbing projects that are easy and helpful to you as well. 

Changing parts or pipes under your sink can lead to a big problem if you make a mistake. However, if you are trying to replace your toilet’s flapper or your faucet’s cartridge, there’s a very little chance of damage.

One of the most common causes of leaks between the toilet tank and bowl is because of worn flappers and replacing it is also very cheap. Additionally, it also comes with easy-to-follow instructions.

Nowadays, you get faucets which can be repaired by replacing the entire interior with a new cartridge and can be done by simply removing a screw or two. This means if your toilet is running frequently or your faucet is dripping then get these replacement parts and give it a try.

You know your drain is clogged when it clears slowly. In such cases, don’t buy expensive chemical cleaners, instead, unclog it with a drain snake. Just insert the snake in and pull back with the clog culprit attached. If you don’t have drain snake or don’t want to use it, try using a wet/dry shop vacuum to suck out the clog.

To fix your dripping showerhead, threading tape is the easiest way to do it. The reason behind the leaking showerhead would be the threads that aren’t connecting tightly. Simply unscrew the showerhead, apply new tape in the clockwise direction, and screw it again, voila! Your showerhead has stopped leaking. 

If the pores of the showerhead clogged, soak it in a mixture of water and vinegar for about an hour and brush it to remove the mineral deposits. 

Pipe dope or thread sealing compound can sometimes fail which leads to dripping and smearing. Instead, wrap the pipe using thread tape which will just fine or even better. You can buy a multi-purpose tape which is usually white in colour. You can even get thicker yellow tape for gas or pink for water. Try one of the thicker options for easy handling. 

When you want to use the tape, roll it counterclockwise around the threads. If you want to get the tapped roll into a tight space, just wrap few turns of tape around a cheap pen and apply from that. Simply wrap it around 3-4 times for better results.

Can’t get that pipe under your sink loose? Hardened fittings make it nearly impossible to open the fitting. In such cases, you need to apply heat to loosen up old and solidified pipe dope. For the heat, you can use a small propane torch for a few minutes. Also, use heat-resistant material to protect your walls. 

Be cautious while applying heat, apply heat to metal water pipes only! 

Check your water heater’s thermostat to make sure it is not too hot. Make it to 115 degrees and you still will get hot water for your needs. Also, insulate your water heater’s tank. This way water will stay hot for a longer period of time. 

As time passes, the water heater pipes will start collecting dirt and dust. In order to get rid of it, simply drain a quart of water from your tank once every three once. If there are some major issues in the heater that you cannot fix, call professional commercial plumbing service providers such as VIP Plumbing.

Report this Page