There is no shortage of situations where we’ve all looked at a job that needs doing, only to think, ‘I could do that – no sweat!’
Homeowners and caretakers are likely very familiar with the feeling, especially where it concerns little fixtures and appliances around the home and its plumbing. It makes the spectacle more inviting when common sense seems to dictate your solutions in a self-assured, even self-shaming way; how difficult could a small leak or funny odour be to fix, why would you possibly want to spend money when you could easily figure the solution yourself? Blocked drains or not, if it looks simple to fix, it’s hard to make the call for a professional hire.
Without a doubt, DIY fixes exist for smaller scale problems that could save the time of both victims and plumbers involved – so long as it’s within reason. At Emergency Drains, we draw the line on when it might be time to call in the A-Team, and how we can help.
Figuring Out Your Tools and Skills – From Small Problems to Blocked Drains
First and foremost, we should determine the benchmark for how well a possible DIY project could go, depending on the know-how and available tools you have to fix it.
Are you confused on the difference between a spanner and a monkey wrench? How well do you understand the layout of your own home plumbing? Do you know where to locate your house water main for preliminary fixes?
If you’re completely new to the idea of a DIY plumbing venture, it’s probably a good idea to recognise where lost causes lie – not to say that there’s no point in learning and applying yourself! Being realistic, though, can be the key difference between being a simple call away from a well-versed professional and your toilet floors being flooded with water.
Common Household Problems You Could Get Started On
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Leaky or Dripping Faucets
For the most part, a leaking faucet is the most common household issue that happens upon homeowners, whether that be because of its annoying tinny noise pollution around the home, or its teasing waste of water.
For leaking faucets, turning off your main water supply should be the first priority lest a continuing leak lead to wall and floor damage, or bacterial growth.
Afterwards, using a screwdriver to remove the handle, remove the packing nut from the stem, and the O-ring from the bottom of the stem. 9 times out of 10, the O-ring is the culprit here, being responsible for sealing pressure between the stem and the rest of the faucet body, and is a common fix for a majority of leaks.
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Clogged or Blocked Drains
Another common headache for many households is the need to fix blocked drains, giving rise to slow draining or stagnant and rising water.
The most rudimentary but effective solution here involves the humorous plunger, and a little bit of an arm workout – make sure that you make the rounded top of the plunger wet enough, here, so that a well-sealed suction forms between the plunger and the flat surface of your sink. Keep pumping as hard as you can, until eventually whatever blockage giving you grief dislodges!
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Installing New Faucets
Similar to a leak, if you’ve had experience with fixing a dripping faucet already, an installation should be within your ballpark.
Aside from a new faucet body, though, other materials you might need involve a stem, packing nut, O-ring, and seat-washer that is responsible for allowing water in and out of the faucet from its retainer.
Still having problems after these fixes? Time to hire a professional! Reach out to us at Emergency Drains, and we’ll have a deeper look at what’s giving you your problem.
