“ 3 DIY Plumbing Tasks!!
It’s always nice as homeowners to have some knowledge on how to fix certain things, before you gotta call the big guns out (that’s us)!! So we chose 3 of the most common questions we get asked and put together how you can DIY them!!
Running Toilet?
Is your water constantly leaking from the tank into the bowl? Such a waste of water! Plus, isn’t that noise just annoying? Your flapper is probably to blame! Just in case you aren’t sure what a flapper is: It’s the round rubber stopper at the bottom of the tank attached to the handle.
A few steps to help you replace your flapper:
- Turn off the water using the shut off valve beside the base of the toilet.
- Remove the flapper from the hinges.
- Take the flapper to your nearest home improvement store and find a replacement that matches (same size and shape).
- Connect the new flapper, turn the water back on, and flush!
Leaky Faucet?
Have you been noticing water leaking from your faucet handle? Or maybe you’re constantly wiping up that darn spot that just keeps pooling with water! It may be time to replace your cartridge! Not sure how to do that?
Follow these easy steps to help you:
- Figure out the make and style of faucet you’ll need to buy the cartridge for.
- Shut off the valves under the sink. Remove the cap & screw and the faucet handle to expose the cartridge.
- Unscrew & remove cartridge. It’s best to use an adjustable wrench or socket set.
- Now, clean the “hole” with a some vinegar and a toothbrush to get rid of any mineral build up. Rinse well.
- Screw on new cartridge. You’ll know it’s on right if it fits snug!
- Put the handle and cap & screw back on. Turn the valves back on, and run the water!!
Clogged Drain?
Is your shower or sink backing up? Or maybe you’ve noticed the water draining super slow… you may just need to simply unclog your drain!! We suggest buying a small drain cleaning tool from any hardware store to do this!
Here’s a few easy steps to follow once you have the tool:
- If you have a drain screen, remove it before inserting the stick.
- If you have a pop-up drain, insert the stick around it.
- Once you’ve inserted the stick, fish around and collect any clumps of hair or gunk in your pipes.
- Next, we suggest flushing out your pipes with hot water to make sure any excess build up goes down the drain.
- Repeat as needed.
We hope this little bit of information was helpful for you!! As always, your Tampa Bay Plumbers are here for you!! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions you may have, or if you just decide you wanna hand that job over to us😉 “