The average individual is often too quick to call the plumber whenever they have small plumbing problems. Don’t get us wrong, calling the plumber is always a smart move. But, what if you can solve some of the problems you call the plumber for? Do you think it will result in some cost savings? If yes, then you should try out some of the following tips first before picking up the phone to call your local plumber.
Try Using the Hanger and Hot Water
Using a wire hanger, unbend the head until it’s straight and use that to try and get out as much grime and dirt as possible. Move it up and down until it feels a bit freer. After that, run some water to see if the drain is free.
If not, try boiling some water and slowly pouring it down the drain to see if the heat will help melt some of the grime and flush through the drain. You could also try using a plunger just as you would with the toilet. Also, if you happen to have any drain unclogging product, apply that to the drain. It should do the trick.
Apply Vinegar and Baking Soda
Sometimes, all it takes to work some plumbing “miracle” is to simply these two products easily found in the home. In fact, some people swear by the potency of these two readily available products. To use this, first pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar first.
Allow some time for the chemical reaction which will be obvious in the form of bubbles. While this reaction is going on, you can be sure that the grime and dirt are being broken down. After about 7 minutes, pour in another half cup of vinegar. This second half cup is meant to complement the initial chemical reaction and further break down the impediments. Allow it to work for about 15 to 20 minutes and then see if the drain is freer. If it is, flush the drain with some hot water until clear.
Use the Toilet Plunger
If your toilet is overflowing or your bathtub seems blocked, the toilet plunger can come in handy. Just apply the plunger to the toilet or bathtub severally and watch to see if the water levels are dropping. Usually, if the problem isn’t severe, this should remove the blockage, allowing the water flow or drain.
Leakages and Dripping Faucets
Many people have been in situations where they’re trying really hard to sleep at night, but the sound of water dripping from a darned faucet just keeps interfering. If this happens, try to see if the faucet is loose in some way. If not, look for obvious leakages. If the leakages are obvious, try remedying it using fiberglass repair tape –plumber’s putty is the more common name.
Reset Blocked Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal has a reset button. Look for it under the disposal and see if the turning on the switch helps. If not, turn off the breaker, unplug the disposal. Then, using your hand, slowly reach in and check inside the disposal to see if there’s anything blocking it.
These are the best DIY fixes you can attempt in the home if you don’t want to call a plumber. Now, if after doing all these, you still can’t get any of those things to work, well, you need to call in the “big guns”, like those at A1 Service Plumbing, to come do their job and unclog your blocked drains, fix the toilet or bathtub issues as well as stop the leaking faucets or pipes.
Oscar King is a family man and freelance writer who contributes home improvement articles. If you wish to learn more about Oscar, you can check out his Google+ profile.