Three DIY Plumbing Repairs Every Homeowner Should Know About

The average plumbing cost per fixture certainly varies. However, it’s common for you to spend at least $600 when you replace or install even one plumbing fixture. The plumbing repair service may or may not supply the plumbing fixture itself.

Fully upgrading the plumbing in a bathroom might cost as much as $4,000. However, the best plumbing repairs might not be quite that expensive at this point.
Getting ‘bathroom leakage repair near me’ may eventually cost $1,000 if you need to have bathroom or household water damage addressed. However, the leak itself won’t be as costly to repair. The leaking pipe might only cost about $350 to fix.

There are also cheap plumbing repair services available today. You won’t automatically need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on every plumbing repair, especially if the issue isn’t substantial. Still, it might be possible for you to fix some plumbing problems yourself.

When it feels like there are certain plumbing issues that won’t go away, contacting plumbing professionals might be essential. If you’re starting to notice a problem as serious as water damage, then it’s even more important to make sure that the issue is solved before it gets worse.

Simple Solutions to Common Household Plumbing IssuesDealing with common household plumbing issues is just part of home ownership. Or perhaps it is just a part of human existence since renters are not exempt from common household plumbing issues just because their name is not on the deed. While some problems require a visit from a licensed plumber for emergency plumbing services in the middle of the night, some of the most common household plumbing issues can be fixed by you with a few inexpensive tools and a little know-how. Before you call in a pro who charges by the hour, check out our DIY solutions for the most common plumbing problems.

1. 1. Problem: Clogged Pipes in a Localized Area
      When your water is draining slowly in one specific sink or bathtub, it indicates that buildup has accumulated within the pipes and is blocking the flow of plumbing. Absolutely every professional plumber will tell you to stay away from harsh drain cleaners that you find at the grocery store. While they can be effective at clearing out your pipes, they also eat away at the pipes themselves and create much more expensive issues. Instead, here are several easy ways to clear it:
      • • First, run water down your drain for 30 seconds to wash away any loose debris. Next, create a natural drain cleaner by pouring baking soda down your drain. Let the baking soda soak in the drains for 30 minutes, and then flush it away with vinegar. The baking soda is effective at absorbing the grease that water alone cannot wash away, and then the vinegar oxidizes gunky greased-up baking soda and pushes it through the drains. As an added benefit, this also deodorizes your smelly sink.

       

      • Another easy solution to a local clog is using a plunger to force it through. Ideally, use a smaller plunger than what you would use in the toilet, as this will create a better vacuum seal that will be more effective at pushing the clog through (these can be found for a few dollars at a hardware store). Otherwise, a standard sized plunger will still get the job done. Fill the bottom of the sink a layer of with water, make sure the plunger encompasses the entire drain, and give it a good three or four forceful pushes. This should be very effective at pushing the build up through your drains.

 

1. 1. Problem: General Slow Drainage
      Over time, as build up accumulates and lines the inside of your pipes, your home’s plumbing moves slower than it should. In order to clean your drains out, try pouring boiling water down your sink to melt away the greasy build up. Next, fill each of the sinks and bathtubs in your home with hot water from the faucet, and let them all drain at the same time. The bulk of water going down your drain at once is helpful for pushing through any residual clogs following your boiling water treatment. Actually, it’s a good idea to follow this simple task once a month or so, to keep those drains chugging along!

 

1. Problem: An Obstruction in Your Pipes
   If you have children, you can expect to come across the “my kid flushed a solid object down the toilet” problem at least once. Even if you avoid that disaster, you’ll likely lose your wedding band, or some other precious item, to the drain at some point. When a solid object goes down the drain, it’s not good for the drains or the solid object. Here are a few solutions to try yourself:
   • • First, smaller items could be caught in the P-trap, that U-shaped pipe underneath your sink designed for this exact purpose. Simply use a wrench to loosen the connectors of the P-trap, and unhook it. Ideally, you will be able to find any important items or remove anything constricting water flow and then reconnect it.

    

   • Larger items that have gotten caught in the drains may require stronger measures. Before calling it a big dog, get yourself an inexpensive auger from a hardware store. Following the directions on the auger, this can be used to snake the drains and pull out any solid obstructions.

Do you have any other DIY plumbing repair tips? Please share below!