1. Clogged Drains

A plunger is necessary to unclog drainage. A high-quality plunger can help clear clogs in areas other than toilets. They’re helpful when the drains in sinks, tubs, and other areas end up clogged. By using a plunger, you allow the water flow to return to normal with one quick motion.

It’s also important to remember that cleaning your sink traps is an incredibly messy task, and it’s helpful to remove the water from the drain before doing so. This is one place where the plunger comes in handy, pushing out at least most of the water out before removing the trap.

2. Clean Out the Garbage Disposal Regularly

Using flashlight, pliers, and tongs to clean out the garbage disposal on a regular basis can help keep it running efficiently and prevent the need for a plumber to come repair or replace it. Some simple actions that you can do are turning off the switch on the wall and checking for a spoon or other silverware that has jammed the disposal, or other content that has over-filled it.

Here are five simple steps you can do to complete this action:

1. Before reaching down into it, make sure that the disposal’s power is turned off. Point the flashlight down into the disposal to locate items that are lodged in it or wound around the impellers that work to macerate solids and send them through the drain. As a tip, you can try removing them with the pliers or tongs.
2. Drop a half-dozen ice cubes and a half-cup of rock salt into the disposal before turning the power back on. Then, you can turn on the disposal while running water into it.
3. Next, combine a cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda, pour it into the disposal, and let it fizz for about 15 minutes to sanitize your sink from the inside.
4. This is a cleaning agent, so any remaining product can be used on the countertop as a paste to completely scrub the exterior of the disposal and even the sink stopper if need be.
5. Finally, plug the drain opening and add water until it’s about three-quarters full along with about a teaspoon of dish soap. Then, pull the plug before turning on the disposal, letting the soapy water run through it into the drain.

3. Wearing Rubber Gloves

This one is not necessarily a hard-to-handle process or one that could be handled in the replacement of a plumber.

As more of a preventative measure, it’s important to keep an eye on the things that are being tossed into the toilet as if it were just another garbage can. Depending on where you live, many things can end up causing a severe plumbing problem with your septic tank or sewer access, but either way, they have to be sent out of the house via a garbage can.

One thing you can do is to notice any of the following products sitting in the toilet before it has been flushed (or even the kids’ tiny toys, puzzle pieces, and other parts). You should reach in with a gloved hand and grab them:

• Cotton balls or Q-tips
• Paper towels
• Dental floss
• Facial tissue
• Flushable wipes
• Band-aids
• Diapers
• Pills
• Cat litter
• Feminine products

For simple plumbing safety, even though many of these are similar to toilet paper – holding the word “flushable” in the title – or some that we were taught to flush when growing up, it’s best to avoid the toilet with basically anything other than toilet paper.

4. Dislodge Clogs with a Wet-Dry Vacuum

Another tool that can help dislodge a clogged small, hard object, like a child’s toy, toothbrush, or comb, you can use a wet-dry vacuum. This is even better than the plunger to suck the object out.

Unfortunately, for objects like this, a plunger will only push them deeper into the drain, making the job harder in the long run.

5.  Manage Leaks

A consistent drip from faucets and other fixtures is constantly wasted water. And money. A leaky faucet typically wastes up to eight gallons of water daily, and a running toilet can waste about 200. You can fix small leaks yourself, saving a great deal of money over time. You should also check for leaks after every plumber leaves by running water through the system, then opening and closing all valves and drains. Even the most experienced plumber may miss a small leak and that needs to be resealed.

6. Avoid Stripped Screws and Broken Bolts

A common DIY plumbing mistake is over-tightening fittings and connections, which break bolts and strips screws. Remember this adage: “hand-tight is just right.”

7. Plumber’s Tape

Plumber’s tape, or Teflon tape, seals pipe threads to prevent leaks around joints and fittings. Wrap plumber’s tape three times around the pipe threads before sealing and improve the seal.

Most importantly, remember that when shopping for plumber’s tape white tape is for common household plumbing projects, while yellow is for gas line connections.

Conclusion

Many builders and contractors have been able to provide quality instruction over the years for several ways to help you out with basic plumbing repair tips for your home. There’s no reason to empty your wallet every time you hear a faucet or pipe dripping, or if there is a clogged drain anywhere around your house. As long as you have some of the most basic plumbing tools, and even regular home items, then you’ll be able to at least make sure that your plumbing system is working well on a daily basis.