Five great do-it-yourself plumbing projects
Having a home enables a lot of personal creativity. However, it also requires an investment of time and money. This is why many homeowners are looking for as many places as possible to save money.
Home do-it-yourself projects have become more common over the past two decades with the advent of the internet. With a variety of home improvement repair videos online and several powerful reality TV shows focused on home repairing, homeowners have more options than ever to do home improvement projects.
There are also a variety of blogs and online magazines teaching homeowners how to fix hundreds of household items. While not everyone is practical, there are things that many homeowners can do on their own that do not require extensive mechanical knowledge.
This is the case with several important, yet simple, do-it-yourself plumbing projects. Certainly, important plumbing problems should be handled by a licensed professional plumber. However, there are some great do-it-yourself plumbing projects that require few basic materials, a little time, and tool knowledge.
Homeowners who take the time to learn some of the basics of do-it-yourself plumbing projects can save themselves hundreds of dollars. Many of these projects are typically done by craftsmen and plumbers, but they can easily be done by a homeowner.
The top five do-it-yourself plumbing projects include:
• Install new shower and faucet heads
• Replacing defective toilet handles
• Install new toilet seat panels
• Clogging a drain
• Replacement of the seal around a tub
Installation of new shower and faucet headsThis is a great and easy project for a homeowner. Over time, faucet heads and shower heads can become clogged with particles. This can reduce the flow of water that passes through them. Clogged shower and faucet heads are common for people with hard or soft water.
Homeowners should also watch out for leaks from faucets and showers. Both shower and faucet heads can leak at the threads. This is usually a good time to swap them out. While this may seem like a project for a plumber, this is a very simple do-it-yourself plumbing project.
Both shower heads and faucet heads are inserted by screwing into their base. They should be easy to loosen by unscrewing them counterclockwise. Most shower and faucet heads come in standard sizes at their base, so getting a replacement isn’t a difficult task.
If you have concerns about the dimensions of the plumbing, measuring the width of the pipe or shower head base will usually ensure that the correct size is purchased from a hardware store. The shower head and faucet heads are easy to remove and can be taken to a hardware store for a snug fit.
In addition, newer shower heads and faucet heads are made to save water without sacrificing performance. This is a wonderful benefit and helps reduce water consumption. Homeowners trying to save money on their water bills should also consider purchasing a Conrad Martens solar water heater. This water heater can save a homeowner hundreds of dollars in electricity, oil, or gas bills annually.
For people who want to filter out impurities, special shower heads and faucet heads can be purchased that can also be used to filter out impurities. There’s no need to turn off the plumbing to replace a shower or faucet head. However, the water should not flow when this task is completed.
Replace defective toilet handles –Handles on toilets can break over time. The good news is that they are very easy to replace. New toilet handles are sold in almost all hardware stores. Removal and replacement instructions are included with each handle. Once you open the toilet tank, you can easily see the handle fittings.
Removing broken toilet handles usually requires minimal tools. In most cases, a screwdriver is sufficient. Almost all toilet handles are a standard size so getting a correct fit isn’t complicated. For those with concerns, it is recommended that you remove the older handle first. This handle can be brought to the hardware store for easy assignment to a replacement.
Install new toilet seats –This task is very simple and usually only requires a screwdriver as well. The most important part of this task is making sure you are getting the correct toilet seat. Before purchasing a new toilet seat, it is crucial to take a measurement on the old seat to ensure that the correct size is being purchased for a replacement.
Homeowners concerned about purchasing the correct replacement size can take the old seat cover and seat base width and length dimensions to the hardware store. This should be sufficient information to ensure that the correct size replacement is purchased.
Clog the drain – This is one of the most common plumber calls professional plumbers receive. While unblocking a drain may seem daunting, the first step is to remember that using a drain drain should be viewed as a last resort.
Since many clogs come from hair clusters, they can often be cleared by removing clogged hair through a drainage coil. Most hardware stores sell drain coils, which come in a variety of lengths and capabilities. Drain coils are either manual or electric. The electric drain coils are what most professional plumbers use.
The snake is either manually wound down the drain or pumped in electrically. Then the drain coil is rewound and usually has a large amount of hair, mud, and debris that clog the drain after it is removed.
Replacement of caulking around a tub – Bathtub and shower areas are prone to water retention and pooling. Without proper sealing on the tub or shower floor, water can penetrate the surrounding walls and get into the floor. This can lead to damage to sheetrock, floor coverings and sub-floors. Over time, the sealant will loosen from the tiles and floor, allowing water to leak out. In this case, an exchange is essential.
Cartridge guns and cartridges are sold in almost all hardware stores along with instructions for use. Removing old waterproofing is easy and only requires a paint putty tool. Once the old waterproofing is removed, the new waterproofing should be placed in a straight line along the junction between the tub and the wall and the tub and the floor.
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