Generally, plumbing projects can seem like a difficult task for most homeowners. But when you look closely, you will realize that they are not always challenging. There are a few plumbing replacements that you can carry out all by yourself. They do not require any experience at all.
Today, we have assembled a few DIY projects that you can conveniently carry out at home. These projects are mainly running toilets, replacing plumbing fixtures, and repairing leaky taps.
So if you do not want to spend a fortune, you can always try to carry out these repairs on your own.
Although most of the projects are simple to carry out, plumbing can be pretty tricky. So, if you are unsure about carrying out the tasks properly and safely, do not think twice before seeking expert help.
Also, it would help if you carried out some prior research before you started accessing the plumbing system. Before we move on to the following steps, make sure you read here about plumbing if you want to derive more information on it.
Turn Off Your Water Supply
Before starting the home plumbing project, do not forget to make sure that the water supply you are trying to fix is turned off. A gate valve or comprehensive valve will always be present for you to turn off a fitting water supply.
All you need to do is turn the valve clockwise until it is tight. This will help ensure that the water supply is entirely turned off.
As soon as this is done, you can turn the valve counter-clockwise to start the water supply. If you are repairing a sink, you will often find the valve located below it.
Generally, when repairing a sink, one of the walls comes in handy for hot water supply while the other one for cold. You are also likely to find valves for appliances like an ice maker, dishwasher, and fridge in several kitchen sinks.
So all you have to do is turn off the valves correctly. If you repair the toilet, you will find that the valve is shut off behind it or near the wall. If you realize that you fail to access or see a barrier for the fixture you are looking to repair, you need to turn off the entire home water supply.
You can do this by turning off the main valve. This is especially possible when you are working with bathtubs and showers. You may also find a few bathroom fixtures containing a form of the access panel. However, you cannot always guarantee to find it.
Generally, you will often find the main shutoff valve situated near the water meter. In many cases, you are also likely to find the valve along the street. In the remaining instances, the valves might be situated inside your home near the wall area where the main supply line penetrates your home.
You may also be able to ensure that the water supply to a fixture is turned off properly. This can be done by turning off the main water supply properly, which blocks the water supply anyway.
Bring Proper Plumbing Supplies And Tools
If you have the proper plumbing tools and supplies at hand, there is always a better opportunity to complete the project on time. This can be done without any hindrance at all. If you use the wrong tools, it may lead to a complete mess. Fortunately, all you need is a few tools for the projects that we are explaining here.
Apart from this, the tools that are needed are also pretty inexpensive. So, you are likely to spend less money than you would have spent on a plumber, even if you purchased the tools. Apart from this, there is no requirement for each of these tools. This is because you only buy what is needed for your project.
The needed supplies and tools will majorly involve screwdrivers and replacement parts like a pipe wrench, basin wrench, Teflon tape, plumber’s putty, and seat wrench.
- Fix A Running Toilet
Generally, how the toilet operates is pretty easy to understand. When you see sufficient water inside the toilet bowl, you can be sure that you can easily flush the toilet. However, you can flush your toilet by pouring water down the bowl using a bucket. This can be done by a flushing mechanism, which can be even more helpful. The tank, the flapper, and the filler valve are the most significant parts.
- Fixing A Leaking Bathtub Tap
The taps that are majorly utilized with bathtubs are either double-handle or single-handle in design. All of them use the exact mechanism. If your bathtub involves a classic double-handle design, you may not be working with a standard compression tap.
- Fixing A Leaking Sink Tap
Generally, you will find sink taps dripping from their water spout. Both of them come from faults that were present in the handle. You will often find fixtures with a single handle in kitchen sinks. However, a bathroom sink will always have more. They work with these mechanisms like cartridge, rotating ball, ceramic disc.
- Replacing A Faulty Sink Tap
If the tap is dripping, you may be able to solve the leaking instead of wanting to replace it altogether. You may also be able to get rid of an old tap if you only replace it with another one. Do not worry, as this process is simple and convenient for you to carry out at your convenience. For starters, you need to understand the correct replacement tap. It should be able to match the holes on your sink. So, be careful about that.
- Adjusting The Sink Pop-up Stronger
If you find that the bathroom sink is draining gradually, you must understand that some issue needs instant fixing. That is why you need to adjust the assembly below the sink.
The Bottom Line
These are some of the most significant things you need to remember when looking to carry out your bathroom repairs on your own. We promise it will come in handy for all the right reasons.
