It can be very easy to panic as soon you realize you have a plumbing problem and if water is getting where it shouldn’t be going the obvious reaction would be to call a plumber.
If water is escaping there is no time to waste but if it is a localized issue that you could potentially fix without the services of a professional, isolate the water supply and take a moment to decide your next course of action.
Here is a look at when it might be a good call to ring a plumber straight away and when you might be able to fix the problem yourself. You will find some insights on the tools and skills you need and a simple tip to fix an underwhelming shower.
Drip, Drip, Fix
A leaky kitchen faucet is annoying and if you are a reasonably confident DIY enthusiast, it is also easily fixed without the need for calling a plumber to your home.
As long as you have previously paid a visit to someone like rs-online.com and stocked your toolbox with a few essential items like sockets and wrenches that you need, fixing a leaky faucet is actually easier than it sounds, even if you would describe yourself as a plumbing novice.
Clearing a Blocked Trap
Another DIY plumbing task that you can tackle with a reasonable degree of confidence is unblocking a trap.
Many homeowners have to contend with a blockage in one of the traps at some point and armed with a plunger, or a drain auger, which is also known as a snake, you have a good chance of clearing the blockage quickly and easily.
However, things don’t always go to plan, but there is still need to panic and call a plumber just yet as it is not that difficult to dismantle the sink and remove the blockage that way.
Remove the debris and wash the trap in a bucket of clean water before putting back together again, and you will have fixed the problem and save yourself some money in the process.
Close to the Rim
It is never a good moment when you witness the water rising to the rim of your toilet after flushing, and although it is a temporary relief when the water doesn’t overflow this time around you will know that you are going to have to clear a stopped-up quickly to avert a disaster next time.
Your snake should be the only tool you need to sort this problem out and with a few turns so it burrows into your waste system you should soon find the blockage disappears and you won’t have to worry about flushing the toilet.
Poor Water Pressure in Your Shower
If your shower is not as powerful as it once was you might think you need a plumber to find out why, but you could try a simple trick to improve the flow before you make that call.
It can often be the case that reduced shower flow is simply down to limescale buildup rather than anything more serious with your pipework. Use a descaling solution to see if that fixes the problem.
These are just a few of the simple plumbing problems that could actually be sorted out using your own DIY skills rather than having to pay for a plumber to get involved.