Plumbing Maintenance and Repair Tips

If you need a repairman in a pinch but can’t find one quickly consider a do it yourself job for a quick fix. Whether you’re having problems with your toilet or bath plumbing issues can be a real pain. It’s not like you can delay any repair work that needs to be done in the bathroom for more than a few days. Since it’s critical to have things in working order you’ll need a few basic, simple do it yourself tips to get things up and running quickly.

Shower Work

Since holes may be clocked by mineral deposits you may need to do some maintenance to address the uneven spray. You would unscrew the swivel ball nut and also the collar nut from the head as well. Use a small sire to clean the shower head holes. Do this patiently and gently to avoid damaging the head. After you are finished cleaning flush the head with a bit of water. This helps to clean out any clogged or blocked holes. If you really want to do a number on mineral deposits consider soaking the shower head overnight in vinegar. This soaking session can minimize any deposits which remain. Doing so will improve the quality of the stream. Hold the shower head in place with a twist tie or similar device. Use a damp cloth to wipe off excess deposits. After cleaning simply fasten the shower head unit into place. Enjoy a more even, naturally flowing shower stream.

Toilet Work

Check your toilet for leaks by seeing if the water in the tank is roughly one inch below the overflow tube. If you don’t check for leaks you may see a sky high water bill at the end of the month. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank to gauge whether or not the flush valve is working. Look inside the bowl after 15 minutes has expired. Seeing a change in color indicates the flapper is indeed leaking and needs to be replaced.

General Maintenance

Remember that your toilet is not a trash basket. Flushing large, bulky materials down the toilet can cause damaging clogs. Simply toss out trash into the waste paper basket before flushing it. Diapers, cotton balls, sanitary napkins, and make-up pads can’t dissolve readily. Throw these items out in the bathroom rubbish bin. Make sure to install strainers into baths and sinks. These handy devices catch hair and other objects which may lead to clogging. Keep these strainers clean to improve flow through the pipes. Remove strains every few days to get rid of soap chips, hair and dirt. Never use your shower, bath or sink without a strain as this can lead to clogs which damage your bathroom plumbing. Consider running hot water down drains every one to two weeks. This helps drains to flow freely in case any hair or debris has worked its way through the strain.

Before you do it yourself consider using a plumbing service. Speaking to the pros can make your life easier as trained, licensed plumbers know how to fix your pipe issues quickly and safely. 

If you live in Denver and need plumbing work consider this trusted plumbing technician.