How To: Best Ways to Address Plumbing Emergencies
|Every household faces plumbing problems at some point. If our water supply, or worse, sewer line is clogged or leaking, we want it fixed as soon as possible! Here are a few tried and true methods you can use to fix the problem yourself, before calling a plumber to save yourself time and money.
First aid for a burst pipe
- If your -h20- supply pipe bursts, shut off the water from the street immediately if possible. If not possible, turn off main breaker in your electrical panel until you’ve addressed the issue so that no one turns it back on to cause further damage. Reaching behind furniture or under sinks may seem simple enough to reposition a loose pipe so stop right there. Although in some situations you can fix a loose pipe yourself with the right tools, most people do not have this tool kit readily available.
- The majority of household leaks are caused by either a faulty washer in an installed faucet or by corroded pipes. It may seem hard to believe that something as simple as a bottle cap could cause so much trouble but it happens all the time! Many times it just needs to be rotated back into position where it belongs. This is when having an adjustable wrench comes in handy. Some plumbers recommend replacing any piping that is over 25 years old because they begin to corrode and wear down, especially if they’re made from copper or galvanized steel (which could be mistaken for brass). With older homes, you should also check your home’s main shut off valve and any exterior hose bibs (faucets), which could be the source of the issue.
- For a leaky faucet, first turn off the water supply at the house’s main water supply valve (you may need to call a plumber for help). Then use an adjustable wrench to remove faucet handles and packing nuts beneath them. Remembering which washer is on top or bottom; install new ones provided with your kit along with replacement handles. Reassemble everything back to original position and you should have a nice tight fit that won’t give you any trouble again!
- If it doesn’t seem as if this is going to fix your problem, don’t worry because there are a lot of other things to try. If the leaking seems to be coming from your wall, you may have a loose connection in your toilet supply line. Start by shutting off water when the tank is full and then flush the toilet to allow all water out of the tank and away from floor or baseboards. Turn on main water supply valve and check for any leaks at connections in both the wall and under tank. If necessary, tighten your connections with adjustable pliers until no more leakages can be detect.
Fixing clogged drains
- If your drain seems to be with continuous clogs. It might help to caulk around sinks where they meet floors or walls since this will prevent hair from sneaking down between crevices. You can also try using a drain screen or strainer on your drains to remove the hair before it gets too far down the line. In some cases, you may need more industrial equipment such as a snake, which either attaches to one of your faucets or an electrical outlet or is fed into your clogged drain, looping around any obstructions that come into view until it reaches them for removal.
- If these tips don’t seem to work in your case, a good plumber will have the right tools and experience necessary to get rid of any problem you could possibly have with plumbing in your home! Remember though; never use chemical drain cleaners if you want to maintain both copper and galvanized steel pipes since they eat away at the iron coating. If you have to use one, let the chemical sit overnight so it can work its magic on any gunk that may be lurking in your pipes.
- Always remember to turn off the main water supply before doing any plumbing repairs. This will not only ensure that no one accidentally turns them back on. But also prevents further damage from being over to your home’s plumbing system! Happy repairs!
Conclusion:
Fixing a leaky faucet or drain is something most homeowners know how to do. While you could call a plumber for these repairs, they don’t have to cost a lot of money, especially when you use the steps in this article. Good luck!