Becoming a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibilities. Aside from keeping track of your bills, you have to learn how to take care of basic home maintenance and repairs to preserve your investments. Among the handyman skills that every homeowner should have is fixing simple plumbing issues. You can’t bring in the pros for every little thing that’s happening in your home. Learn how to handle basic plumbing problems with these helpful tips.
1. Unclog a drain
A clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing problems in a home. Your house drains will get clogged by dirt and debris at some point, so you should know what to do when it happens. There are many DIY ways to unclog a drain, but the most effective process for clearing sink clogs is plunging. This method requires the use of a plunger (cup-style), which you can purchase at most hardware stores for less than 5 dollars. Minor clogs usually clear up after a few plunges. Run hot water down the drain after plunging to make sure the leftover debris is washed away completely.
2. Shut off the main water valve
Plumbing emergencies can happen at any time. A burst pipe in winter can cause wasted water to flood your home. Before you call your trusted plumbing professionals for help, be sure to shut off the main water valve first. Stopping the supply of water to your home during a plumbing emergency can help avoid costly water damage. That is why you should take the time to find your main water valve and learn how to shut it off.
3. Patch a leaky pipe
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks can waste approximately nearly 900 billion gallons of water annually nationwide. To help conserve water, dedicate a day to finding water leaks around your home. One way to find out if you have a water leak on your property is to monitor your water bill. If your water bill continues to rise without any changes in your water use habit, you probably have a water leak in your home.
Patching a leaky pipe is an essential move to take while waiting for the plumber to do the repair work. The easiest way to do it is by using a water pipe epoxy. Apply a generous amount of epoxy paste into the gap and press down to let it stick to the pipe material.
When to call for a professional plumbing repair
While there are plumbing fixes that you can do on your own, there are also those that should be left to the pros. Serious clog and leak problems require specific repair methods that only the pros can perform. Industry experts recommend the use of professional plumbing services as they can provide the best solution to any plumbing problem you are experiencing at home.
To improve the efficiency of your plumbing system, invest in professional plumbing maintenance and repairs. Call trusted plumbing companies in your local area today to get quality consultations and estimates.
