When it comes to issues revolving water being where it shouldn’t or not working how it should, you don’t want to let those problems linger too long. Water damage can be expensive and risky to your health. So when in doubt, don’t fail to call a plumber. However, if you’re comfortable with a little DIY, here are some of the common plumbing problems you likely don’t need to shell out on.
5 Bathroom DIYs That Don’t Usually Require a Plumber
1 – Caulking bathtubs and showers
Are you are finding that mold is settling in parts of the bathroom or that existing caulk has come away? Then you don’t need to wait for a plumber to come out. Choosing the right caulk is where most of the complexity lies. And once you have it, all you need to do is follow the instructions on the packet and fill in the gaps.
2 – Leaking faucets
One of the few leaky issues that are safe to do yourself is when it comes to your faucets. If they are leaking and it feels like they are getting tough to turn on and off, then heat has likely worn out the rubber washer inside. After you replace the washer, it may be worth looking at how you can turn down your water temperature and it’s usually the culprit of washer damage outside of general wear and tear.
3 – Running toilet
Find that there’s still a little water running down the toilet bowl long after it has been flushed? This is most likely due to the floater valve, the bulb inside the cistern that blocks the flow of water into the bowl when it’s full. If it’s stuck, try jiggling around. Otherwise, you can quite easily replace the floater valve, too.
4 – Sink/toilet blockages
In the vast majority of cases, these blockages are caused by something that is stuck in the U-bend of the pipes. A plunger will help to get most of them out but as this website shows, make sure you’re using the right plunger for the right drainage. Otherwise, you might have a problem getting them unstuck. There are some other potential causes of blockages, such as a blocked sewage system outside the home, so you will still need help if the plunger doesn’t work.
5 – Replacing a faucet
If you find that you’re dealing with something a little more complex than a leaking faucet then sometimes it can be more cost-effective to simply replace the whole thing rather than to fix a tiny part in an appliance that might not last much longer either way.
Know that installing a new faucet is a step-by-step process. So it’s worth looking at this guide, it’s not hard to do it at all and anyone at your local hardware store should help you find the parts you need. Just be sure to turn the water off at the mains before you start.
The Bottom Line: You Don’t Usually Need a Plumber for These 5 Simple Fixes
Again, if you’re in doubt about the problem you’re facing or you’re not comfortable with the DIY solutions provided, you should most definitely call a plumber. Don’t attempt anything with your water system that you’re not certain will work.
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificates in Natural Health and Herbology from accredited programs. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
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