HELPFUL TIPS
Quick wins that save the day
Helpful answers to your innermost heart's questions
Most people do not know when to DIY their plumbing or get a professional plumber to handle it. We have compiled the commonest questions you might have plus the best answers you could ever get.
Bathroom Related
No one wants to see their bathroom plumbing go down the drain, but it happens. Simple problems, such as a clogged or running toilet, are easy to fix, while larger problems, like a backed-up toilet, are tasks you’ll want to leave to the professionals.
The easiest way to unclog your toilet is with a plunger, but if you don’t have one on hand, fill the toilet with dish soap or laundry detergent, add a pot of boiling water and then wait a few minutes before flushing. The hot water should break through the clog as the soap washes everything through the siphon and out of the drain.
Look online for comparisons on flush ratings, as well as available rebates on high–efficiency models. Consider features such as pressure assists and heightened thrones when choosing a toilet.
A running toilet is usually caused by a flapper, the rubber or plastic valve on the bottom of your tank, that fails to seal. Open the toilet tank and adjust the float arm to see if the water stops an inch below the overflow pipe. If the water doesn’t continue to fill, the flapper needs replaced.
Open the toilet tank and put a few drops of food coloring into the water to check if your toilet is leaking. Return after 15 minutes to see if the color inside the toilet bowl has changed. If the color has changed, your toilet has a leak, but if the water’s still clear, you do not have a leak.
The main causes of high water bills are running toilets, which can waste up to 760 Litres per day, and leaky taps, which can drip up to 75 Litres per day. Check for leaks by inspecting taps, as well as removing your toilet bowl’s tank and listening for any sounds, like hissing. If you don’t find leaks in either of those locations, you’ll need to check your water line and hose bibs. You may also want to contact a plumber.
Tighten the t-bolts and replace the pan connector if your toilet leaks at the base.
Fix a small leak on your toilet water’s supply valve by tightening the shutoff valve. Place a wrench around the valve’s packing nut and give it a one–eighth clockwise turn to fix the leak.
Yes — turn off the water supply to the tank and remove the remaining water with a suction device. Allow the tank to dry and then apply epoxy to the crack. Smooth the epoxy out and wait for it to dry to repair your cracked toilet tank.
Your toilet may smell when you flush because of a broken airtight seal. Sewer gas is blocked from entering homes by the drain venting system. A U–shape in the pipe holds a designated amount of water after each flush. The water acts as an airtight seal to block sewage gases. If too much negative pressure occurs, however, the water level can lower and break the seal, causing a smell after you flush.
If sewage is coming out of your toilet, it’s likely caused by a backup in the main sewage line. Call a plumber right away for assistance.
Hopefully, you’ll never experience sewage escaping from your toilet, but something you’ll likely experience as a homeowner or long-term renter is a leaky tap or shower head attachment. So, how do you fix both of those problems and more? Find out below:
Remove buildup on tap aerators by taking off the aerator. Soak it in acidic liquid and then rinse and scrub it under running water before reattaching it to the tap.
Leaky taps are usually caused by worn rubber washers, which give out over time due to valve seat friction. Replace the washers to fix your leak.
Failure of the diverter to close, which blocks the tap’s water when the shower is on, can cause the tap to run water when using your shower. Diverter problems are usually due to calcium or mineral deposits.
Low pH and acid water, both of which are caused by high amounts of carbon dioxide in the water supply, can cause rusty, blue or green stains in the bathtub.
If your shower pressure is low when other taps in the house are running, your household’s water supply is insufficient due to an inadequate plumbing system. If the problem persists when all other taps are off, it’s likely due to pipe or patch leaks.
A faulty gasket or poor connection typically causes a leaking shower head hose attachment. Remove the shower head and soak it for half an hour in white vinegar. Replace the rubber washers and reconnect the shower head to test for any remaining leaks.
Maintenance on your bathroom’s plumbing is necessary whenever a tap leak persists or drain blockage occurs. A clogged toilet, or toilet that continues to run, as well as low water pressure also mandate service, especially when do-it-yourself (DIY) home repairs fail to fix the problem.
Plumbing maintenance should be performed every 18 months to two years, or whenever an issue arises with your bathroom’s plumbing.
Kitchen Related
People often forget about their kitchen’s plumbing, which tends to include their sink and dishwasher. Your kitchen’s plumbing, however, can quickly become noticeable when your drain or macerator is clogged, or if your dishwasher becomes filthy.
Turn off the macerator, insert an appropriately sized hex or Allen wrench into the hole of the macerator motor. Rotate the wrench back and forth to dislodge the obstruction and fix your jammed macerator.
Yes, Drano® and similar brands make sink–cleaning products that are safe for all sinks, including those with macerators. If in doubt, check the drain cleaner’s label before using it.
Remove odor from your macerator by using items like lemons, ice cubes, baking soda and vinegar.
Clear a clogged drain without chemicals by using baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a box of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the drain, then plug the tap with a plunger for 30 seconds to prevent the mixture from bubbling upward. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Boil a kettle of water and then pour it down the drain to clear it.
Prevent clogged drains in your home by stopping hairs, oils, greases, coffee grinds, pasta or hard produce parts, such as broccoli stalks, carrots or apple cores, from going down the drain. A drain stopper or filter can help stop materials, like coffee grinds, pasta and produce from entering your drain.
Grease traps and interceptors catch oils, greases and other fatty deposits, so they don’t enter your sanitary sewer system.
A backup of rusty water into your kitchen sink is caused by three potential problems — sediment deposits in the water tank, rusted piping or bacteria in the water from iron oxide.
If your kitchen drain is taking longer to empty, then a clog is forming, perhaps deep in the drain. A plunger may be able to pull out the obstruction. You could also use a drain cleaner or baking soda and vinegar solution, along with boiling water to loosen and break up the clog.
Loose drain pipes under a kitchen sink tend to come unfastened because of a loosened washer, which holds the pipes.
Now that you’re up-to-date on how to fix and clean your garbage disposal and sink, why not learn about how to clean your dishwasher and when to schedule routine maintenance? If your answer’s yes, you’ll find the answers below:
Yes and no. You could save on your energy costs, and possibly prolong the life of the appliance if it performs well in conservation mode. If the performance is unsatisfactory, however, the economy settings could lead to higher costs as you might end up doing two cycles per wash rather than one.
Clean your dishwasher by filling the detergent container with white vinegar and running the machine on a long, hot cycle. Do not leave any dishes in the washer for this cleaning cycle.
If your dishwasher isn’t draining, it’s likely due to a leaky inlet valve or mineral deposits in the pipes. Empty the dishwasher and start a new cycle on empty. Cancel the cycle after a few seconds and open the door. If the water is gone, the dishwasher is fine. If not, the inlet valve should be replaced.
Dishwashers that aren’t filling with water are often caused by a dirty filter on the inlet valve. Clean the filter and try another cycle setting. If the dishwasher still doesn’t fill, replace the inlet valve.
For anyone not comfortable with DIY maintenance — definitely. If DIY methods fail to fix a leaky pipe or tap, clogged drain or low–pressure tap, your only option is to call a plumber.
A kitchen plumbing system, regardless of its age, should be scheduled for maintenance once a year.
Outdoor Plumbing & Drain Cleaning
Outdoor plumbing is perhaps best known for the infamous water line leaks that every homeowner dreads, or the continued persistence of tree roots to grow into your water pipes. While most outdoor plumbing problems require a skilled plumber, you can do quite a bit of preventative care.
Find a leak before digging by using an underground leak detector.
If your water meter is leaking, call a plumber immediately. You should also contact your water utility provider as well because if the leak is between the meter leading to the water utility, it is their financial responsibility to fix the leak. Leaks between the meter and your home are yours.
Outdoor faucets tend to stop working suddenly due to debris in the tap’s opening or an obstruction with the aerator or inner spout.
Your outside faucet is likely running because the gasket or the valve seat has worn out and needs to be replaced.
Roots tend to grow wherever water is present in the soil. Therefore, roots are drawn to sewer pipes, which encourage tree roots to grow into them.
Have a plumber run an inspection of the drains to find the roots clogging your sewer drains and eliminate the problem.
Control roots in your pipes by calling a plumber to run cutting blades through the pipes. You can also flush a root–growth suppressant down your toilet twice each year to inhibit regrowth.
Roots can be trimmed out of any plastic, cast iron or clay tile stormwater lateral pipe, as well as many corrugated iron and thin wall pipes.
Aside from digging up the spot and cutting out the root, you can remove tree roots with a hydro jetter or root–removal chemicals.
A water jetter is a high–powered blast hose that’s inserted into pipes to blow away obstructions, dirt and grime.
Root killer products are best applied by a professional. If you opt to do it yourself, read the instructions carefully. Use root killer through a sewer drainage port with a flow of water.
De-rooting pipes won’t work forever because when roots enter a pipe, the holes remain after the roots are cleared. The roots will grow back in and need to be removed again. This cycle gradually puts more and more pressure on the pipes, which will need to be replaced eventually.
If you still have some unanswered questions regarding outdoor plumbing and drain cleaning, don’t worry. We have you covered with the following answers:
Unclog a drain pipe outside of your home by cleaning the area around the pipe entrance and inserting an auger cable. Power the auger cable through the pipe until it hits the main sewer, then back it out. Run hose water into the pipe to clear away the broken-up root clog.
Unclog your main sewer line by locating the clean–out plug in your basement, crawl space, garage or outer–foundation of your house. Insert an auger cable or sewer rod into the clean-out plug and work it through until it clears the obstruction.
A sewer line inspection camera is a waterproof camera that makes it possible to inspect sewer lines and other underground pipes.
Your main water line should be replaced when it becomes corroded. Pipes in homes built 60 or more years ago should be checked annually for signs of corrosion.
Plumbers are helpful for clearing a clogged drain if your DIY methods don’t work or if you don’t feel comfortable unclogging the drain. In any case, DIY methods are best reserved for people with experience.
Unclog drains with an over-the-counter drain-cleaning formula, or with a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and boiling water. A clog can also be broken up with a drain snake or extracted with a vacuum.
You should have your septic system inspected every three to five years.
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CALL OGA PLUMBER
Plumbing problems often have two options — fix it yourself or call a plumber. You may be more than capable of fixing a clogged toilet but many plumbing tasks are safer in the hands of experienced plumbers.
The best solution for clogs, leaks, low water pressure and intrusive roots is to call a plumber. DIY solutions may provide temporary relief to certain problems, but a plumbing professional will have the experience and tools to set your plumbing system right.
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