Are you looking to be a DIY plumber or at least someone who could fix any minor plumbing issues that arise in your home? Well, the truth is that you could save hundreds of pounds by taking care of the dripping faucets or problematic shower heads on your own. Always take care of the minor plumbing problems before they manifest into something only plumbers in Belfast can handle. We have some useful tips and advice you could apply to your plumbing problems once you have the right tools at hand. Let’s get you enlightened.
Don’t Be Afraid To Replace Your Taps or Parts Inside Your Toilet
Taking apart the piping work in the shower or under the sink could result in a mess if you do it wrong. However, there is very little you can damage by trying to replace your tap’s cartridge or toilet’s flapper. Worn out flappers are the common cause of leaks between a toilet bowl and its water tank yet they will only cost you a few dollars. They also come with easy-to-follow guidelines for replacement. On the other hand, most modern taps can be easily repaired by replacing the interior with an entirely new cartridge. This will only require you to take off one or two screws.
So, if your sink is dripping or toilet is frequently running, buy replacement parts and hone your DIY skills.
Remove the Clogs Without Chemicals
If your drain is clearing slowly, do not purchase the expensive, chemical drain cleaners. Instead, use a snake to manually unclog your drain. Just insert the snake into the pipe and pull it back up hoping that you’ll have the clog culprit attached. And if you do not have a snake, you could use a dry/wet shop vacuum to suck out your clog.
Use Heat to Loosen the Tight Water Pipe Fittings
Can’t seem to get the pipe fitting or trap under your sink loose despite trying hard with a pipe wrench? Well, this isn’t a surprise since hardened joints could make it almost impossible to budge the firm fitting with brute strength. However, this should mark the end of your plumbing work. You might want to use some heat to loosen up the old and solidified pipe dope. A propane torch could do the trick although you will need to apply the heat longer before you can make much progress with loosening the pipe fitting. A word of caution, use a heat-resistant material to protect the nearby walls or appliances.
It might seem obvious, but you should only apply heat on metal pipes. Never do it on or next to a gas pipe. Besides, you shouldn’t use heat on plastic fittings or pipes.
Use Thread Tape Instead of Thread Sealing Compounds
Thread sealing amalgam – which is popularly referred to as pipe dope – easily drips and smears. But for most DIY plumbing projects involving pipe threads around your house, a thread tape will work just fine or even better. You can purchase a multi-purpose thread tape, which is typically white. The thicker tape is typically pink for water or yellow for gas. When you’re wrapping the tape, roll it anticlockwise around the threads. And if you experience difficulties getting the roll into a tight space, you could wrap it around a pen and apply from that. For the best results, you should wrap the tape around pipe threats about three times.
You might not have the technical skills to handle tough plumbing projects, but small leaks and clogs could be fixed without the help of a plumber. However, it is also important to have a plumber’s contact just in case you encounter a problem you cannot tackle alone. With the above tips and advice, you’ll find that minor plumbing projects are simple and satisfying to handle on your own.