Three Quick Fix Plumbing Tricks
Plumbing emergencies can be a major source of frustration for homeowners. From a dripping faucet to a clogged drain, these problems can disrupt your daily routine and even cause damage to your home if left unchecked.
While it’s always best to seek professional help when dealing with complex plumbing issues, sometimes you simply cannot wait for a plumber to arrive. In these situations, it’s essential to have some basic plumbing knowledge and a few tricks to address the problem quickly.
Residential Plumbing holds all sorts of hazards for the DIY homeowners, so always choose safety over a quick fix.
We’ll introduce you to three quick and easy plumbing tricks to help you resolve urgent plumbing issues independently. Don’t panic or worry; these tips will equip you with the necessary tools to handle the problem swiftly and effectively.
So, let’s get started and learn these essential plumbing tricks!
How to Clear a Blocked Toilet
A blocked toilet can be a messy and unpleasant plumbing emergency no one wants to handle. Various factors, including flushing inappropriate materials such as paper towels, baby wipes, too much toilet paper, and other non-degradable items, can cause it. Fortunately, you can clear a clog quickly and easily with simple steps.
Step 1: Turn off the Valves
Before starting the job, turn off the water valves to prevent leaks or low water pressure in your house. You can usually find the valves near the base of the toilet.
Step 2: Assess the System
Before you try to clear the blockage, assessing the situation is essential. Look at the water level in the bowl and determine if it’s a partial or complete blockage. If the water level is high and threatens to overflow, you should turn off the water supply by closing the valve near the toilet base and then proceed with the following steps.
Step 3: Use a Plunger
To use a plunger, make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the cup of the plunger. Place the plunger into the toilet bowl, and push down and pull up to create suction. Keep doing this until the blockage clears and the water flows down the drain.
Step 4: Flush the Toilet
Once the blockage is cleared, flush a few times to ensure everything works properly.
Step 5: Check for Leaks
After you’ve cleared the blockage and flushed it, check for any leaks around the toilet’s base or on the taps to the water connections. If you notice any leaks, you may need to replace the system to prevent further costs.
How to Clear a Blocked Kitchen Drain
A clogged kitchen sink is a common problem in most households. It’s an unpleasant job, but there’s a good reason to tackle it: ignoring it can lead to more significant issues, such as leakage, wet cabinets, and costly repairs. Fortunately, a few simple steps can solve most cases of a blocked kitchen drain quickly and easily.
Step 1: Turn off the Valves
Before starting work, turn off the water supply to prevent leaks or water wastage. You can usually find the valves under the sink or near kitchen appliances.
Step 2: Check the Garbage Disposal
The first step in clearing the blockage is to remove any visible debris or food particles that may be causing the problem in the sinks. If you have a garbage disposal, check it first to see if it’s causing the clog. Turn off the removal, and use a hose to flush water through it to see if it drains properly. If it doesn’t, you may need to manually remove any debris causing the blockage.
Step 3: Clear the Drain
If the clog is not in the garbage disposal, you can use a plunger to clear it. Place the plunger over the hole, and create suction by pushing down and pulling up. Keep doing this until the blockage clears and the water drains down the pipe.
Step 4: Remove Grease Buildup
Often, kitchen sink clogs are caused by grease buildup in the pipes. To remove the grease, pour hot water down the drain, followed by a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, and then flush it well with hot water again.
Step 5: Check for Leaks
After clearing the drain, turn on the taps and check for leaks. If you notice any, you may need to replace the pipes or other parts to prevent further costs in the long run.
Following these simple steps can clear the blockage quickly and save time and money.
How to Make a Temporary
(Plumbing EMERGENCY!)
Fix to a Burst Water Pipe
Uh-oh! A burst water pipe is bound to cause a fair amount of cursing and swearing at the best of times. When the hardware
store is closed and the plumbers aren’t answering their phones, there’s a quick trick or two,
depending on whether the pipe is copper or PVC.
- Find the mains, turn the water off, and find the leak.
- A lead pencil and some duct tape can work wonders quickly if we’re talking about a small hole. Sharpen the pencil, insert the lead into the hole and then snap it off to form a seal. Wrap with duct tape and call the experts at the next available opportunity.
- If the hole is bigger than that, find an old piece of rubber (like an inner tube) and wrap it around the pipe, covering the hole. Use a C-clamp and two small blocks of wood to clamp the rubber in place. You can also use a piece of garden hose for the same effect.
- Find the mains, turn the water off, and find the leak.
- A small leak in a non-pressurised pipe can be fixed with good duct tape wrapping. This will hold for a few days until you get some epoxy, replacement pipe or call an emergency plumber.
Once you have made a temporary fix, calling a plumber as soon as possible is essential. The quick fix will only hold for a short time, so getting a professional plumber to fix the problem permanently is necessary.
Proper maintenance is critical to avoiding plumbing emergencies, but when the unexpected happens, it’s good to know how to do a quick fix on plumbing. Remember, a quick fix is not a permanent solution, so it’s essential to call a plumber as soon as possible to fix the problem permanently.
At Limcora, we understand how stressful plumbing emergencies can be, so we offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services. Our team of expert plumbers can fix any plumbing problems, including clogged toilets, burst pipes, dripping taps, blocked drains, and more.
Don’t let a plumbing emergency ruin your day. Contact Limcora today at
1300 006 606 to get your plumbing problem fixed quickly and efficiently.
