Home Owner Care » using a plunger

How To Fix Common Plumbing Problems

Racheal Ashley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:55:05 +0000

If you live in a house or apartment you guaranteed to at one point or another come across a plumbing problem. Here is a list of the most common issues you may come across with your plumbing and some easy steps to take to fix them.

Leaking or Broken Pipe:

Turn off the house’s main shutoff valve to avoid water damage or further plumbing problems.
Make temporary repairs to stop the leak; the pipe will have to be replaced as soon as it is suitable to do so.

Overflowing Toilet:

Reach within the toilet tank, press the tank stopper down into the valve seat, and hold it there.
Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valve under the toilet. If theirs is no valve, turn off the house’s main shutoff valve.
Unclog the toilet with a funnel-cup plunger or closet auger.

Clogged Sink:

Shut off any faucet or appliance, such as a dishwasher, that drains into the sink.
Unclog the sink using a plunger or snake. Don’t use a chemical drain cleaner if the blockage is entirety clogged.
It is a good idea to keep a plumbing snake to fix numerous common pluming problems.

Faucet That Won’t Shut Off:

Right away turn off the water at the fixture valve beneath the sink. If there’s no valve, turn off the house’s main shutoff valve.
Repair or if necessary replace the faucet to stop any further pluming problems.

Steaming Hot-Water Faucet:

Open every hot water faucets to relieve the overheated hot-water heater.
Turn off the electric or gas supply to the heater.
Let the faucet run until cold water flows from it. This a sign that the water in the heater is no longer overheated, then you can close them.
Call in a professional to make any needed repairs to the heater.

How To Unclog A Toilet Trap

Racheal Ashley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:47:53 +0000

If you suspect a toilet is clogged, don’t flush or it might overflow.

To unclog the toilet, first dump out or add water so that the bowl is half full. Then use a funnel-cup plunger, this is specifically designed to fit the bowl’s trap. If the plunger does not clear the clog, use a closet auger. The closet augers curved tip reaches more deep-set clogs and its protective cover won’t scratch the bowl.

Funnel-Cup: Use a funnel-cup plunger to free a clog in the toilet trap. Swiftly pump the plunger a dozen times or more to push the clogged obstruction through the toilet trap.

Closet Auger: Use a closet auger to break up a deep-set clog in the toilet trap. Maneuver the auger while simultaneously pushing it and turning the handle to push out the clogged trap.

Quick Fix-Up:

Preventing an Overflow: If a toilet is about to overflow, swiftly reach into the tank; push the tank stopper down into the valve seat and hold it as you turn off the water valve.

Clearing Drains With A Plunger

Jim Adams — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:58:44 +0000

For many of us, the first thing we do when we have a clogged drain is reach for the plunger. A plunger is an effective tool for clearing a drain but many times fails if used incorrectly. Don’t think that 4 or 5 plunges is going to fix your clogged drain. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your plunger.

How to clear a clogged bathroom sink using a plunger

How to clear a clogged kitchen sink drain using a plunger

Your plunger should have a suction cup large enough to completely cover the drain opening.
Make sure there is enough water in the fixture to cover the entire plunger cup.
TRICK: Apply petroleum jelly to the rim on the bottom of the plunger cup. This ensures a tight seal.
Make sure all other outlets (overflow drain – bathroom sink; second drain – kitchen sink) are plugged with wet rags. This will create a vacuum.
Insert the plunger into the water at an angle so that no air gets trapped in it
Hold the plunger upright and apply 15 – 20 vigorous strokes.
NOTE: Clogs are most often dislodged on the upstroke
Apply the plunging strokes 2 – 3 times before throwing in the towel. If the clog doesn’t dislodge after 2 – 3 times, it’s time to use either clear the drain with a chemical cleaner or clear the drain with a plumber’s snake.