3 Simple Plumbing Jobs You Can Manage Yourself
Attempting your own plumbing can sound like a recipe for disaster. It conjures up images of spraying burst pipes and flooded homes, which is why we almost always leave plumbing jobs to the professionals.
However, there are certain plumbing jobs that you can do yourself. While we would never recommend installing a bath or a new pipe system on your own, there are some smaller tasks that can certainly be completed without the help of a professional. Let’s find out more.
Fixing a Dripping Tap
There are few things more annoying than a dripping tap. You might not notice it during the day, but when it’s quiet at night and you’re trying to sleep, you will undoubtedly hear the slow, unmistakable noise of a leaking faucet.
Before you call in the plumber, a dripping tap is a relatively simple fix that can certainly be done without the help of a professional. However, you’re going to need the right tools. You’re going to need a spanner, a screwdriver, Allan keys, spare washers and O-rings and possibly cleaning materials. Visit Macblair before you get started to pick up everything you need.
Before you do anything, turn off the water first. Look under the sink or a nearby cupboard for the stopcock and turn it to the right to cut off the water flow. Next, unscrew the tap head and use a spanner to take it apart. Give it a clean and remove any grime and limescale, and then replace the washer and O-ring before you reattach the head. This should fix your dripping tap!
Bleeding the Radiators
If your radiators aren’t consistently warm all over, with cold spots towards the top, this means there is air trapped at the bottom. What this does is prevent air from circulating properly, causing these cold spots to appear.
To fix this, you’re going to need to bleed your radiators. This allows trapped air to escape and should solve the problem straight away.
Turn off the heating first. This will stop hot water from leaking while you bleed your radiators. Next, use a radiator key, which you can pick up from a hardware store, to turn the valve at the top of the radiator. Turn the key to the left and you should hear air escaping. There will be some water too, so mop this up with a towel. Once you hear no more air escaping, you can turn the key to the right and reseal the valve.
Unblocking a Drain
A blocked drain can be extremely unpleasant and can even be a health hazard. It can be easy to seek professional help immediately if you have a blocked drain, but it’s possible to rectify the issue yourself.
First, try different solutions and pour them into the drain to see if they help. You can try baking soda and vinegar, chemical cleaners, or even just boiling water. These can prove surprisingly effective.
If that fails, you can try using a plunger. These can take a while to work, so persist with your plunger to unblock your drain.
Conclusion
These three simple plumbing jobs can be done yourself without the need for professional help. However, always ensure you have the right tools and equipment.