The Coronavirus pandemic has obviously changed the way most of us are living our daily lives. For one thing, you’ve probably been spending a lot more time indoors lately. That’s why Smith’s Plumbing Services thought it would be a good idea to talk about some DIY plumbing jobs for the average homeowner.
We want to reassure our customers that we are still here for all your essential plumbing services. That being said, we also understand the importance of limiting contact with the outside world, and we want to empower our customers to make small repairs on their own. Keep reading for some useful tips, and remember that Smith’s Plumbing Services continues to available 24/7 for emergencies.
Top 3 DIY Plumbing Jobs the Average Homeowner Can Handle:
- Leaky Faucets: That slow drip of a leaky faucet can be extremely annoying, and eventually jack up your water bill if not dealt with. The good news is that leaky faucets are also fairly easy to fix, as long as you know the basics of what you are doing. In most cases, you can take care of a leaky faucet by simply replacing a washer. Of course, you will have to purchaser the washer before doing this, but after that, you should be able to take care of the problem with no more than a little elbow grease and some simple tools. On the other hand, if you want to replace your faucet for an aesthetic issue and have been planning a remodel, consider waiting until this pandemic is over. Smith’s Plumbing Services will still be here to handle all your kitchen and bathroom remodeling needs.
- Clogged Drains: Clogged drains are a tough problem to discuss, because the average homeowner assumes they can be dealt with using store-bought drain cleaners. Yet any experienced plumbers will tell you the chemicals in these cleaners are extremely toxic and bad for your drains, not to mention frequently ineffective. Without chemical cleaners, you might then assume it’s always better to hire a professional to take care of your drains, but this isn’t necessarily the case either. Using a sink plunger, drain snake, or cable auger, you can remove and break up a lot of clogs on your own. And even if you don’t have any of these items, you may be able to create a DIY drain snake with a wire hanger. You can also flush your drains out with a homemade drain cleaner comprised of baking soda, vinegar, water, and maybe a little lemon. And finally, it is important to remember that you can avoid most clogs altogether by not putting grease and tough food materials in your garbage disposal, and using drain catchers in your tub and sinks. If you have done all these things and still have a nasty clog on your hands, this is when it’s time to call a professional plumber for drain cleaning.
- Running Toilets: As we have discussed before on this blog, fixing a running toilet is not as hard as you may think. The first step is just to figure out what’s going on. More often than not, you’re dealing with a faulty stop valve or floater switch (also known as a floater valve or float cup.) This is the small ball in the back of your toilet that stops the flow of water once the tank is full. You can replace this part easily, and sometimes solve the issue by just taking out your current float switch and reassembling it so it functions properly. There’s also a chance you’re dealing with a worn out flapper, which you can also replace easily. In some cases, you can even fix the problem by shortening the chain connected to the flapper (chains that are too long will prevent your flapper from sealing properly, causing your toilet to run.) If you have tried all these methods and are still unable to fix the issue, you may want to call Smith’s Plumbing Services to see if you are dealing with a leak.
Committed to Keeping Our Customers Safe
We hope that our advice will help you tackle simple plumbing problems while you are stuck at home, and we urge you to contact our pros at Smith’s Plumbing Services with all your urgent questions. We want to reassure you that we have updated safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19, so we can still provide the quality plumbing work we are known for while also protecting the safety and well-being of our community and staff. Make sure to continue following the advice of the (CDC), and know that Smith’s Plumbing Services is always here when you need us.
Call (901) 290-1110 for scheduling, or contact us online for more information.