When it comes to home plumbing, even the most well cared for houses can experience problems. While many issues are best left to professional plumbers like ours at Isaac & Sons, there are some fairly basic fixes that you as a homeowner can learn to handle small-scale issues in a timely manner. In this blog post, we are pleased to guide you through five essential plumbing fixes that can help keep your home’s plumbing system running properly.
1. Resetting Your Water Heater
If you’re finding that the water in your home is no longer heating appropriately, one potential remedy to try is resetting the water heater unit. What you’ll want to do is switch off power to the water heater, wait a couple of minutes, and then turn the power back on. If your home uses a gas water heater, you’ll want to make certain that the pilot light is lit. This reset will hopefully restore your hot water. For situations where that doesn’t work, please reach out to us for water heater repair service. We will carefully inspect the unit and take additional measures to fix it if at all possible. In situations where repairs are not possible or effective, we can assist you with water heater replacement as well.
2. Fixing a Running Toilet
While running toilets can be quite frustrating, there are steps you can take to potentially correct the issue. First, check the flapper located within the toilet tank itself. It is somewhat common for deteriorating or improperly aligned flappers to lead to running toilets. You’ll want to adjust the chain length if you find that it’s either too loose or too tight. If you do this and the toilet is still running, you may need to swap the existing flapper for a new one. It is also a good idea to check out the fill valve to see if there are any indications of a malfunction.
3. Leaky Pipe Repairs
Leaking pipes are a serious issue that must be addressed as swiftly as possible to help avoid potential damage. As a stopgap measure, you can employ a pipe clamp or spread epoxy putty over the leak. For a long-term solution, you’ll need to turn off the water supply, remove the section of piping that is damaged, and add in a new pipe or use a coupling. Please note that these fixes do necessitate some do-it-yourself plumbing skills, so if you’re not comfortable doing the work or feel that it’s a matter requiring professional assistance, contact us for cost-effective pipe repair and repiping services.
4. Remedying Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can be an incredible annoyance and may lead to serious issues if not corrected. Using a plunger is often a good way to resolve smaller and more simple clogs. If that isn’t enough to clear out the blockage, you can use a plumber’s snake tool to get deeper into the drain and clear the space out. A good preventive measure is to use a mix of vinegar and baking soda in the drain as this can assist in dissolving the buildup without needing to employ harsher chemicals. If none of that works, we’re here to help. Our drain cleaning services are no match for clogs, no matter how extensive they are.
5. Put in a New Faucet Washer
Another step you can take to address a plumbing leak yourself is to replace the existing washer with a new one. To start, shut off the water supply to the faucet itself. Carefully take off the faucet handle and unscrew the packing nut in order to get to the washer itself. Then remove the old washer and replace it with a new one. Be sure that the replacement washer is the same size as before. Swapping the washer can be effective in handling a leak, but if that doesn’t work please call us for professional service.
Isaac & Sons is Always At Your Service
We hope that this guide proves useful to you if and when you come across plumbing problems in your home. By utilizing these fairly straightforward fixes, you may be able to save money, time, and hassle. That being said, it is important to recognize when a plumbing issue is beyond what you can successfully manage yourself. Our Isaac & Sons team takes great pride in offering quality services at affordable prices, and are here when you need us, whether for small fixes or emergency repairs. For assistance, please call us at (626) 715-4748 or contact us online.
