Common DIY Plumbing Projects

• There are some people that have one hand on the phone the second a plumbing problem starts to take shape and others who never met a DIY project they didn’t like. For the latter group, repairing various plumbing problems around the house is both challenging and exciting. They sometimes get themselves into difficulty or end up making a situation worse than it was, but that’s all part of the DIY lifestyle.

• Here are some common DIY plumbing projects from various areas of the house.

Leaky Faucets• A leaky faucet is one of the more common plumbing issues

you’re likely to experience. It’s also a perfect type of project for the DIY crowd, because it’s usually pretty straightforward and uncomplicated. Leaky faucets can happen in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or anywhere else you might have a faucet in the house.

• Usually, a faucet starts leaking the washers and seals that keep the water inside get older and start to wear out. Make sure you get the right accessories for your brand of faucet, and turn off the water supply before you start removing the faucets.

Toilets

• Just about everyone has probably had an issue or two with a toilet. Some of the most common toilet DIY fixes are clogs, a running toilet or a leaking toilet.

• Most clogs can be loosened up with just a basic

plunger or a basic closet auger that you can find at most stores that sell plumbing supplies. In the majority of cases, paper and waste are clogging the toilet, so expert help isn’t required.

Toilet (con’t)• If your toilet is continually running, the problem is likely inside

the tank. The wire that connects the toilet flap to the handle might need adjustment to make the running stop. Sometimes, jiggling the handle a little will help, but if it doesn’t stop you’ll want to adjust the wire.

• A leaking toilet may require some professional help if it’s

serious enough, but a skilled DIY’er can usually remedy the situation. You may have to replace the wax seal beneath the toilet, or the toilet itself, but it is possible. Just remember to shut off the water and flush your toilet before you remove the bolts and get started.

Leaky Pipes• Just as your faucets or toilet can leak, so too can your pipes. If

it’s a slow leak, you might not even notice until you get a water bill. Basically, fixing a leaky pipe largely depends on how serious the leak is, where it is located and what kind of pipe is leaking.

• In some cases, simply patching up the leak with materials you can find at the hardware store will suffice, while other times entire sections of pipe might have to be replaced.

Clogged Drains• In a busy household, clogged drains happen in the kitchen and

in the bathroom. Things like food particles, hair, soap and other personal care products can all find their way into the drain and clog things up.

• Sometimes it’s enough to just run hot water down the drain for several minutes to break up the clog. If it’s a little more serious, you can use a plunger and if it’s really stubborn you might want to turn off the water and remove the trap underneath the sink. The clog might be in there, or if it isn’t you can try an auger. Avoid using any harsh chemicals in your household drains.

Renovations• One of the things that the DIY crowd really loves is doing

renovations. And quite often, along with a new room renovation comes a new toilet, bathtub, shower and/or sink.

• This kind of plumbing project is a little more advanced and requires tapping into the current plumbing system in the home. If this kind of project is your thing, try to keep your plumbing additions in line with the layout of your house, so that the whole plumbing system works together.

Common Mistakes• As skilled as some DIY plumbers may be, mistakes will be made

from time to time. Here is a list of some of the more common ones:

• Mismatched Materials – repairing certain parts of the plumbing system with mismatched materials is a sure way to find problems down the road. Using washers that don’t fit exactly or combining two different types of pipe is definitely not the way to go.

• Improper Tools – using the proper wrenches, saws and other tools is the best way to see that your entire project is done right. If you don’t have the right tools for the job, you’re asking for loose fittings and lots of water.

Common Mistakes (con’t)• Not Finishing a Project – starting a project with all the

enthusiasm in the world and then getting sloppy in your work as that enthusiasm wanes is a common DIY plumbing mistake. Many people end up trying various time-saving tricks, which only make things worse in the end.

• Not Knowing When to Say ‘When’ - there are just times when enough is enough and it’s time to call a plumber. Unfortunately, some people can’t seem to recognize that time. Try and remain realistic and call for help if you need it.