We all know why DYI plumbing repair skills are important for handling common problems. Imagine you are relaxing on your favorite couch watching a movie at night, and suddenly you see some water slowly flowing across your living room floor. This only alludes to one thing; a plumbing problem. While it is advisable to call an emergency plumbing repair service in the event of such accidents, it is not always necessary. As a family person, it is good to have some basic DIY plumbing skills and repair some common plumbing problems. Some of these issues might seem to be serious, but if you investigate properly, you will find out that they only require a few tools and some basic knowledge. Here are some emergency plumbing repair tips worth checking out before thinking about calling the emergency plumbing repair service.

Be Prepared.

Do not be misled by the fact that your plumbing system was done perfectly and expect it to be problem free for many years. Plumbing systems are always vulnerable to problems, and you should be prepared at any time. Damages from these accidents can ruin walls, furniture, and electronics and many other things. Do not wait for the problems to strike and try to anticipate any water leaks under the sinks and on the roofs. Try to understand the way your plumbing system works and have a clear idea of how to switch off the main valve. To conduct basic repairs, you need to have some basic plumbing tools which include a pipe wrench, basin wrench, channel lock pliers, auger, set of screwdrivers, nut driver, plunger and drain cleaning tool.

Unclogging.

Clogs are some of the most common plumbing problems you will come across. They are minor but still annoying. Clogs should be taken care of when they start as waiting for them to grow might lead to serious problems. The first thing to do when you notice a clog is to use a plunger. Plungers are simple to use and can help to remove clogs caused by food particles in the kitchen sink. They can be used to unclog the bathroom clogs caused by soap particles, but there is a chance that they might push the clog down the pipe making it more difficult to remove. If you can’t solve the problem using a plunger, try using the new drain cleaning tools such as the Zip It. This device is a long-barbed wire that is inserted all the way into the drain and then pulled backwards. If this does not work as well, remove the trap below the sink and remove the clog.

Pipe Repairs.

Pipe bursts can be caused by aging pipes or even freezing of water during winter. This plumbing problem is messy but still fixable. Find out the reason and exact location of the pipe burst. Some pipe bursts are in the form of holes, and they are relatively simple to repair. A hole can be simply fixed by wrapping duct around the pipe while a hairline crack can be corrected using a pipe clamp. For leaked pipe joints, make use of putty to seal the holes. Keep in mind that you need to turn off the water before making any pipe repairs. For larger holes, you will need the patch repair kit. Ensure you clean that section of the pipe using sandpaper before repairing it and make sure you wrap the patch for about five inches in both directions away from the crack. For large cracks, consider calling a professional plumbing repair service as the affected section will have to be repaired.

Leaky Toilets.

If your toilet is leaking at the base, check if it may have moved a bit. This shifting of the toilet seat cracks the wax used to seal this place, and this allows some water to leak through. To fix this problem, sit on the toilet and readjust it back to the original position. You may be required to wax it again if it still leaks after adjusting it. Waxing the toilet is a lengthy process that involves removal of water from the bowl and detaching the bowl from the floor before applying the wax and then attaching it again. If you are not prepared to wax it on your own, call the professionals.

Plumbing problems come in different forms, and all of them alongside their possible solutions cannot be covered in this piece. However, the mentioned ones are some of the most common ones, and you will be better prepared to handle them when they come along without even calling a professional plumbing repair service.