DIY Plumbing
Plumbing tips
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Turn off the water source to the area you’re working on. (Turn right to tighten, left to loosen.)
- When taking something apart, lay its parts down in the order you took them out. When purchasing replacement pieces, take the old part with you to the store.
- When working in the tub or sink, close off the drain with tape so nothing accidentally falls in.
- Stock your bathroom-specific toolkit with the following: a large and a small multi-head screwdriver (or a set of Allen keys instead of the small one), two adjustable wrenches, a plunger, a plumber’s wrench, a bucket, and rags and towels.
Do-it-yourself Plumbing tips for your top five troubles with a Plumbing.
Leaking Toilet
WHY does your Toilet Leak?
- The flapper is corroded or damaged, the fill valve is broken, or the chain is too long or too short.
How to fix your Leaking Toilet?
- If the toilet flush arm chain only has one inch of extra chain, unhook and adjust it.
- Check that the rubber flapper (connected to the same chain) is covering the hole where the water comes in. If it isn’t, attach it firmly in place. If it is in place, unclip it and check for erosion or damage. Replace the flapper if it’s damaged.
- If the water level is higher or much lower that the water level line on the inside of the toilet, you’ll need to adjust the fill valve (on more modern toilets) or the float arm. When adjusting a modern ball-less fill valve, look for a vertical arm just off of the main body of the fill valve. Either squeeze the clip to move the arm up or down, or use a screwdriver to loosen and adjust the bar. When working with a float arm that has a ball, gently bend the arm to adjust it into place.
Leaking Faucet
WHY does your Faucet Leak?
- With time, age, and use, the washer or o-ring eventually needs to be replaced.
How to fix your Leaking Faucet?
- Remove the caps on the faucet to reveal the screws. Tighten the screws slightly.
- If the faucet is still leaking, take it apart. (See the tips below.)
- Look for any parts that are damaged. (The washers or o-rings may need to be replaced.)
- Take any damaged parts to the hardware store to pick up an exact replacement.
- Reassemble the faucet with the new part(s).
Clogged Drain
WHY does your Drain get clogged?
- Too much matter is stuck in the pipes
How to fix your Clogged Drain?
- Remove any surface clogging such as hair from a sink or tub.
- Make sure there’s a bit of water in the sink, tub, or toilet to act as a lubricant.
- Plunge the drain rapidly about 50 times without stopping.
- If the drain is still clogged, feed a plumbing snake down the drain to break up the blockage.
Mold on the Silicone
WHY do you get Mold on the Silicone?
- An abundance of water and not enough ventilation
How to get rid of Mold on the Silicone?
- To remove the old silicone, slice along the top and bottom of it with a knife, then scrape it out using a razor scraper held at a 30-degree angle.
- Wipe any extra moisture that may have been under the silicone. (The area needs to be bone dry for best results.)
- Apply silicone in long, unbroken lines. Immediately after applying the silicone, moisten your pointer finger in a cup of water and run your finger along the line of silicone with a light pressure. (If the silicone spreads or clumps too much, wipe your finger on a wet rag, then dip your finger in water again and continue from 2 inches behind where you stopped.)
- Wipe any excess silicone with a wet cloth right away.
- Allow the silicone to cure for 48 hours by keeping the area dry.
- Keep in mind:
- Keep the area dry for at least 24 hours beforehand
- Use only kitchen- or bath-rated silicone (avoid caulking)
Toronto Plumbing articles.