As a home owner you are likely looking to improve your DIY skills, so that you can quickly and easily address some of your home maintenance and repairs. Even if you are not the most mechanically inclined person, there are sure to be a few plumbing problems you can fix in your bathroom. However, it is important to remember that if any of the problems below occur with frequency—that you must reach out to a Pittsburgh plumbing professional to make sure there is not a larger problem at hand.
Dripping Faucet
If you have noticed that your bathroom sink is dripping, a fast and easy fix may resolve the problem. One of the most common reasons faucets drip, is because the washer or O-ring has worn out. While every faucet is a bit different, replacing a worn out washer can often be done in just a few minutes. The water to the sink must be turned off before replacing the washer.
What you need to identify, is where the valve for your sink is placed. The valve is often underneath the faucet handle, where you will also have to remove the packing unit that is keeping it in place. Faucet handles can be unscrewed with a standard Phillips screwdriver, so that you can remove the valve and replace the washer. If you are not sure what size washer you require, you can identify what you need by the make and model of your sink. Also consider investing in a pack of assorted washers designed to solve the most common home plumbing needs.
If your bathtub faucet is dripping, the process may be a bit more complex—meaning that it is best to turn to a residential plumbing service. As an added bonus, watching a professional replace your washers may be all you need to replace them solo in the future.
Overflowing Toilet
There is a reason why just about every home or apartment owner keeps a plunger in their bathroom. If your toilet overflows every blue moon, a few quick plunges is likely to do the trick. When it comes to plunging, you must wait until the water level goes down enough that you can plunge without creating more of a mess. While you are waiting for the water level to go down, you can grab a few towels to keep the waste-filled water from flowing outside of the bathroom. You may even want to tent your plunger with a towel before you begin plunging, especially if the water does not go down as much as you would like. However, if you find that your toilet is getting clogged or overflowing frequently, there is likely to be a larger problem somewhere in the line—meaning that you need to reach out to professional plumbers in Pittsburgh.
Slow Drain
Both your bathtub drain and bathroom sink are likely to become clogged with hair from time to time. The good news is, there are several ways you can address your slow drain, without calling in a Pittsburgh plumbing professional. Here are just a handful of ways to fix a slow drain:
- Attempt to address the drain as soon as you notice that it is not draining as quickly as usual.
- Invest in a small sink-sized plunger, and attempt to plunge the clog free.
- Invest in a handheld (non-electrical) plastic drain snake.
- Invest in hair catchers for your drains
- Use a liquid drain de-clogger
Keep in mind that if the tips above do not resolve your clogged drain, then it is time to turn to a plumber in Pittsburgh. Also keep in mind that while liquid drain de-cloggers can work wonders, if used too frequently they can be damaging to your drains. If you have to de-clog a slow drain too frequently, there may be something else going on.
Learning how to address the common plumbing problems above will allow you to rely less on residential plumbing services for your minor plumbing needs. That being said, you must have a Pittsburgh plumber you can turn to for larger plumbing concerns, as well as emergency plumbing concerns. Keep your home’s pipes in working order with help from the Pittsburgh plumbing experts at Mister Sewer. For over 25 years, our plumbers have been helping homeowners repair any type of plumbing problem no matter how big or small. Call us today, and let us help keep your pipes flowing smoothly all throughout the home.