5 Plumbing Tasks You Should Be Able To Handle Yourself

When it comes to maintaining a home, there are some situations where the best thing you can do is to bring in the professionals to get the job done right. Bathroom remodeling, for example, should definitely be left to Crofton plumbing professionals if you want results that will improve your home and raise its value.

However, there are other issues that, with a bit of elbow grease and preventive maintenance measures, homeowners can—and should—manage themselves. In those cases, the same technique you would use to solve the problem is also the one a professional plumber would apply. Here are five plumbing tasks you can do on your own.

Stopping The Water Flow

This is plumbing 101, and it only requires a bit of searching on your part. If water is pumped into your home through the town or city waterlines, then somewhere in your house is a valve that controls its flow. Find out where that valve is so you know where to go to turn it off when needed. It’s a waste of both time and money to call a plumber every time you want to turn off the water flow.

Unclogging The Toilet With A Plunger

One of the most common Crofton plumbing issues is a blocked toilet. This may be the result of children playing with toys that get flushed or other objects that are improperly disposed of in the toilet. A plunger is one of the most effective means of clearing up a clogged toilet, but only if you know how to use it correctly. Make sure you have a plunger on hand so you can avoid many expensive calls to a plumber who may just bring their own plunger to use.

Using A Plumbing Snake

Also known as an auger, a plumbing snake is a more intensive solution than the plunger for blocked drains and toilets. Rather than using air pressure, plumbing snakes rely on physical force to clear up blockage. They are comparatively inexpensive tools as well, so it never hurts to have one in the home.

Restoring Water Flow Or Pressure To A Faucet

If only one tap in the house has lower water pressure than it used to, odds are that the issue is with the tap itself. A common cause is a blocked aerator, which is a filter set into the faucet to trap solids. Unscrew the faucet with a wrench and check the aerator. If it’s filled with debris, empty it to restore water flow.

Changing A Showerhead

Modern showerheads are designed to be easy to remove and install. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty with a wrench and/or screwdriver to install a new showerhead in your bathroom. You don’t need a professional for this anymore. The pieces are modular and easy to assemble, and the instructions are often clear enough for anyone to follow. You can get additional help from online instructional videos if you need it.

When it’s time to call the pros, contact us today to help you out.