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Plumbing Hacks for New Homeowners | AllHome.com.ph



Jul 19, 2021

Want to save money on plumbing repairs? learn a thing or two with these D.I.Y hacks! Whether it’s a leaky faucet or a terribly clogged toilet, these plumbing tips for beginners like you will surely help you when you’re in a tight pinch.

Plumbing Tools You Need to Have

Having various related tools in your home can be helpful when facing a plumbing crisis. After all, one can’t be too prepared for emergencies. One of the best DIY plumbing advice is to buy yourself the following tools to avert any crises that come your way.

  1. Plunger

Not having a plunger in your home is just asking for trouble. This tool should be the first thing you have for plumbing-related maintenance in your home. Whether it’s the water closet or drainages, having a plunger handy means you can fix any clogging issue that doesn’t require immediate or delicate repairs.

  1. Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

This kind of slip-joint pliers has angled jaws, long handles, and can be adjusted accordingly depending on the plumbing work you do. Despite its wrench-like shape, tongue-and-groove pliers shouldn’t be used as a wrench substitute; instead, they should be used for turning, pulling, gripping, and cutting related objects.

You should add these groove-joint pliers by Tough Notch to your plumbing toolkit. Find yourself many hand tools like this at AllHome Online.

  1. Wrenches

Not all wrenches are made equal; each of them has a specific use you should be aware of. For your plumbing DIY needs, you should have a basin wrench, adjustable wrench, and pipe wrench. From the name itself, basin wrenches work best for sinks and basins; these self-tightening wrenches are for tightening and loosening fittings in hard-to-reach areas. On the other hand, adjustable wrenches—like this Stanley 12” adjustable wrench—are known for their flexibility and are used for pipings of various sizes. Lastly, a pipe wrench or two similar to this Tough Notch Pipe Wrench, while uncommon, can help you work on many difficult fittings the other two wrenches can’t handle.

  1. Drain Auger

Also known as a drain snake or plumbing snake, drain augers are used for unclogging drains and other pipings that no plunger can fix. The metal cable will snake through the pipes; afterwards, you can use its drum to force the cable through the clog or fish it back after the pipes have been unclogged.

Heat is Your Friend

For a lot of plumbing issues, heat is going to be your friend. For example, when it comes to clogging, some attest to baking soda and vinegar. But we prefer to leave those in the kitchen and instead use good ol’ hot water for simple drain and toilet unclogging. This works best as long as you don’t use PVC piping for your sinks or water closets. Heat yourself some hot water and pour it down the drain or your toilet and let it sit for a while. The different temperature should change things up in your clogged fixture or fittings, making it easier to use a plunger or a drain auger to unclog it.

Another heat-based solution: If you find it difficult to remove or adjust a fitting with just brute strength? Use a torch, such as the Konice Gas Torch, to loosen their grip. Remember to use them ONLY if your fixture or fitting isn’t made of PVC or when you’re not near your gas lines.

Learn to Replace Fittings and Fixtures

YouTube and a lot of internet-based resources can teach you a lot of things, including plumbing. With your hand tools and your smartphone, you can learn to replace the internal or external parts of your toilets, showerheads, basins, sinks, and drains. A lot of plumbing problems you can face in your home can be resolved with simple DIY solutions.

Just follow the instructions, from simple replacement to DIY plumbing installation—for example, adding the Eurostream 3-Function Hand Shower in your bathroom.

Maintenance is Key

Proper maintenance and prevention will always be the more cost-friendly option than replacement. Always check for leaks and issues to learn what needs to be repaired or replaced. Look for signs of mildew to determine if there’s water leakage in your bathroom or sinks. Don’t flush wipes or anything other than human waste on your American Standard Simplicity Close-Coupled Water Closet. Lastly, always remove hairs and other small materials on your drains to prevent clogging.

Always be proactive when it comes to plumbing. Have the right tools and learn these tips by heart so you won’t have to call the plumber every time a simple problem requires a simple solution.

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