Living in an older home, my husband and I have had to learn quite a few things about home maintenance and repair. Do-it-yourself projects are now as common in our home as our teenage daughter’s eye rolling. I never thought I would learn how to do my own plumbing repairs; however, when you find yourself on a first name basis with the plumber you start to figure some things out for yourself to save money. Three DIY plumbing repair projects that homeowners can easily do themselves to save money require very few tools and minimal expertise.
DIY Plumbing Repair Projects
Replacing the wax seal under a toilet
I could not understand why my toilet was leaking around the base when everything else seemed fine. I first thought it was the pipe coming in from the wall; however, after talking to my “guy” at our local home improvement store, I learned that the wax seal needed to be replaced. The wax seal helps prevent damage to flooring and subflooring from leaks and seals the opening to the sewer line. A new wax seal is inexpensive and available at any local hardware or home improvement store.
Shut off water supply to the toilet (usually located right behind the toilet) and disconnect the water line from toilet Empty water from toilet and tank by flushing two or three times and using a sponge and bucket to remove excess water Pry off the caps covering the bolts holding the tank to the floor and remove the bolts with an adjustable wrench. TIP: If the bolts are stuck, use a little bit of penetrating oil to loosen them. Gently rock the toilet seat side to side to loosen the wax seal and remove the toilet. Do not lift by the tank because this can crack the tank. Stuff a rag or newspaper into the top of the sewer line to keep sewer gas from entering your house. Use a putty knife to remove the old wax ring from the floor and any wax stuck to the bottom of the toilet. Place the new wax ring on the floor according to the directions on the package, replace the toilet, bolts and reconnect the water supply
Installing a hand-held shower head
I wanted a new shower head like those in my favorite hotel but my husband never found time to install it . . . do I did and it was not that hard.
Being cautious, I turned the water off to the bathroom but it is not necessary for this DIY project. Using an adjustable wrench, remove the existing showerhead. Clean the shower head threads to remove residue build-up with a little bit of vinegar and a scrubbing pad. Wrap the threads with Teflon tape in a clockwise direction – – one layer is sufficient. Thread the new showerhead onto the existing pipe threads and tighten until firm but do not force additional tightening. If your new showerhead has a separate wall mount, you can either mount it to the wall with screws (requires drilling) or use water resistant adhesive. Spread the adhesive evenly on the back of the wall mount bracket and place it on the shower wall. Secure the bracket in place with some duct tape for 24 hours until the glue dries. Remove the duct tape, place the new showerhead into the cradle and you are ready to enjoy a great shower.
How to replace an outside water faucet
Our water faucet outside was leaking causing our water bill to increase in addition to the wasted water. I talked to my guy at our local hardware store, purchased the supplies and headed back home to replace the water faucet.
Cut off water to your home from the main water supply (probably somewhere in your front yard). For this job, it is necessary to cut off the water supply before starting. Drain any water from the pipes by turning on the faucet and allowing the water to drain. Remove the old faucet using two pipe wrenches – – one to hold the pipe to keep it from turning and the other to turn the water faucet in the opposite direction. Adjust the wrench so that it holds the pipe firmly in place so that when you begin to twist off the faucet with the other wrench, you can apply pressure to the pipe to prevent it from turning. Continue applying pressure in opposite directions until the faucet breaks loose from the water pipe so that you can remove it completely from the pipe. Clean the threads on the pipe with a stiff wire brush to remove rust, debris and corrosion and then apply two layers of plumber’s tape around the threads. Screw the new faucet onto the water pipe by hand until it is firmly in place and then use the wrench to tighten the faucet while you hold the water pipe in place with the other wrench (reverse of how you removed the old faucet). Turn the water back on at the main valve and test the faucet for leaks. If it leaks, try tightening the faucet some more or check the plumber’s tape to see if you damaged the seal when you screwed the faucet into place.
Sources:
DoItYourself.com
Lowes
Home Depot
More from this contributor:
How to Unclog a Bathtub
How to Diagnose a Clogged Septic System
Troubleshooting a Washing Machine that Won’t Drain