Easy Plumbing Repairs That You Can Do Yourself

Owning a home means that you really should have some basic DIY skills. You don’t need to be able to fix anything and everything that might come up, but there are some basic skills that you can easily master that will make caring for your home a bit easier. Knowing how to deal with some common fixes will make you more independent and keep you from having to call a handyman every time something goes wrong.

You don’t need to have extensive plumbing skills, but there are a few plumbing fixes that you can easily handle on your own. Take a look at these easy plumbing repairs that you can do yourself.

Caulking

Anyone can apply caulk. Don’t know what caulk is? Look at your bathtub. All around the edges, where the tub meets the floor and the wall, there is a strip of white, rubbery material. That is caulk. It is there to protect the seams and keep water out. Over time, old caulk can begin to deteriorate, and it will eventually need to be replaced. You may see cracks or little bits of caulk missing; that is your indication that it is time to replace it.

The first and most difficult part of caulking is removing the old caulk. You must completely remove the old caulk so that the new caulk can stick properly. You can purchase products that will soften the old caulk and make it easier to remove. Then you can remove the caulk with a putty knife. The key here is to make sure that you get all of the caulk out of there before applying the new caulk. Once you have removed all of the old caulk, clean the area with paint thinner and let it dry before you begin installing the new caulk.

Caulk comes in a tube or a caulk gun. To apply the new caulk, just squeeze it firmly, drawing a straight line (or bead) along the seam. It may take a little bit of practice before you can draw a neat line.

Fixing a Leaky Faucet

If you have a leaky faucet, don’t ignore it. A little drip may not seem like a big deal, but it can add up to thousands of gallons of water every year, and you pay for every drop. Fixing it really isn’t that hard. Just follow these steps:

• 1. Find the water shut off valve and turn it off. It is usually located under the sink.
• 2. Locate the faucet handle and remove it. It is usually hidden under a decorative cap.
• 3. Using pliers, remove the packing nut.
• 4. Remove the valve stem by unscrewing it from the housing.
• 5. Remove the screw that holds the washer in place.
• 6. Take the washer out. You can take the washer with you to the hardware store to help you choose the appropriate replacement. If the washer is very deteriorated or falls apart when you remove it, then check the faucet for the make and model to help you locate a proper replacement.
• 7. Replace the old washer with a new one, and reassemble the faucet by following these steps in reverse.

These are just a couple of simple plumbing repairs that you can do yourself. If you run into plumbing problems and need some assistance, call Scott English Plumbing. We are on call for you, and we are happy to help you make repairs and get your plumbing back in proper working order. Call Scott English Plumbing to schedule a service call today.