Plumbing Jobs Individuals Can Do

In order to determine the market value of a home, experts and buyers alike will form their opinions around two very important rooms; the kitchen and the bathrooms. As this is commonly known, many people will choose to do a remodeling project on these rooms in order to increase the value of their home. To accomplish the project, there are inevitably going to be some jobs which involve a degree of plumbing expertise. If you are a do it yourself type of person, then it is important to realize that plumbing is not an area that can be glossed over. The proper installation of piping and the individual faucet alike are imperative in order to save time and money in the future. In order to determine what you will be able to handle on your own during the project, make sure that you are aware of the different tasks that the plumbing on the project will entail.

Most do it yourselves do not have a problem when it comes to admitting that plumbing is an area in which their knowledge is limited. While the job may seem hard to understand, the fact is that there are a lot of plumbing jobs that a novice can undertake with confidence that he will be successful. There are many resources available to those who want to try a task on their own, including sources found in books, magazines, and on the Internet. Most of the really good sources will not only include step by step instructions but also clear diagrams on the procedures. Some tasks, such as putting in a new faucet or a tap, are easy enough to do on your own. Other more involved tasks, like replacing a lot of pipes or extending pipe systems, will require the help of trained professionals.

One way to decide what you can undertake yourself and what you will need a pro for is to create a detailed plan before commencing the project. This will help you decide which areas you will need help in, and when that help will be needed. You can also use this plan to set up a schedule in advance with the plumber who you want to do the work.

Good plumbing is a crucial element in the value of your home. It will not necessarily add equity, since plumbing is invisible and sadly what people care about is only what they can see. However, bad plumbing will definitely work to decrease the value of your home in the case of a breakdown. If you have doubts about your capabilities on a project, make sure that you are not afraid to call a plumber.

The collaborator Johnathan Bakers is especially interested in topics related to kitchen cabinet and countertops. You can discover his contributions on kitchen faucets over at http://www.kitchen-cabinets-tips.com/kitchen-faucets.html and various other sources for kitchen faucets tips.

DIY Plumbing Repair - Down the Drain

One common plumbing problem that often occurs at the most incovenient of times is a clogged drain. Many home owners are tempted to reach for a bottle of their favorite drain cleaner - they are easy to use, supposed to be quick, and you don't have to get your hands dirty. The problem with quick fixes - as with many things in life - is that the quick fix may not be the best.

Most drain cleaners these days will not damage your plumbing when properly used. The key is to make sure that you use them properly. If your home has a septic system, make sure that any cleaner specifies it is safe for use in septic systems. Different types of drain clog removers may target different types of problems and have different instructions, make sure you follow them to get the maximum effectiveness.

Sometimes a liquid cleaner will not be enough to take care of the problem. A number of years ago we received a lesson in what not to put down your food disposal - cantelope rinds. The disposal had no problem grinding them up, but a few feet down the drain they re-assembled into am impassable clog.

The first attemps was the faithful old plunger. A plunger works on the concept of hydralic pressure (simply put, you cannot compress a liquid) to move the blockage. The problem with this approach in a kitchen or bathroom sink is that the drain may not be the only outlet - there are often multiple drains and/or overflow connections which make a plunger useless in these cases

The next step was to try and remove the sink trap. Once you get to this phase, you need to make sure you have a bucket and a few towels handy. If you had previously attempted to clear the clog using a chemical drain cleaner you need to be careful here as there may still be residew in the sink, pipes, or trap. Before removing the trap, make sure to drain as much of the sink water as you can.

Place the bucket under the trap and loosen the connection to the portion of the pipe leading down from the sink to the trap. By opening the down facing segment of the pipe first you should be able to confine the draining water to the bucket - if you remove the horizontal portion first you are likely to make quite a mess as the water drains in that direction. If the remainder of the water drains from the sink, you know your clog if further down the line. If the water does not drain, then you need to check the segment between the trap and the sink for obstruction. Usually a screwdriver or length of bent clothes hanger is sufficient to check and clear any blockages found.

Next check to see if there are any obstructions in the removed trap. Either take it to another sink and see if water flows through it unobstructed or use a length of clothes hanger to probe for (and remove) any blockage. If you found something blocking the trap, you should be all set. Re-install the trap and run the water. If you found no obstruction, it is time to search further.

So the sink and the trap are clear, what next?

This is where you may need tools that you might not have handy but it is definitly a job for the correct tool. Don't try to explore the pipe with anything that might potentially be dropped, break, or otherwise become lodged in your plumbing - the idea is to correct the problem, not cause bigger problems. The correct tool for the job at this time is usually a plumbers auger (also called a snake). This is a long, flexible, springlike contraption that is "snaked" down into the pipe. You can purchase a small, basic plumbers snake at any home superstore or plumbing supply store and they are fairly inexpensive (another example of a tool that pays for itself the first time you can use it instead of calling a plumber).

Push the auger into the pipe until you encounter a blockage. If you are using a manual auger, you may need to twist it (they usually have set screw and handle to help) to get around turns in the pipe. Once it reaches the clog, you twist it to "auger into" the blocking substance. If you have a fibrous clog, you will pull the auger back along with a portion of the clog - repeating as many times as necessary to remove it. For softer clogs (like grease) you may just force the auger through the clog and rely on water pressure later to help continue to remove the loosened clog.

If you are unsure that you have cleared the clog completely and you want to check before you re-assemble everything use a hose to run some water down the pipe. Run the water SLOWLY - you don't want to find out the hard way that the clog is still there. Keep your bucket underneath the pipe while testing. If it is cleared, re-assemble your sink/trap and run your water for a while - make sure that your drain is working normally - if it is slow, you may still have a partial blockage.

One other potential solution is the "as seen on tv" water blaster variety of drain clearers. These gadgets are usually very inexpensive and typically consist of a small rubber nozzle with a hose fitting on one end. The concept is simple, you stick the nozzle into the drain, hook it up to a hose, and turn on the water. The water pressure first makes the nozzle swell to fill the drain or pipe opening and seal/hold it in place. Then the nozzle forces water into the pipe hopefully clearing the block by building up pressure behind it. If you listen, you will hear the clog clear and water flow rapidly down the pipes.

A couple problems to be aware of with these systems: If you have PVC drain fittings (as many sinks do), you better make sure you connections are good - if there are any minor leaks or loose fittings you are likely to end up with a sprinkler system under your sink. From personal experience there is one other problem you may run into. When you turn off the hose, the pressure that previously swelled the nozzle to hold it in place is gone - however there is still water and pressure in both the line and the nozzle. The results similiar to shaking up a soda bottle and removing the cap - it makes a great funny story to tell you friends in hindsight, but it's not quite so funny when you are mopping up the kitchen.

Finally, if none of the above have worked, it is time to call in the professionals. As I have noted in previous articles, a good contractor is worth every penny they charge you. Most will not only help you out with your problem but will also suggest how you can prevent it in the future and if necessary point out problems that need to be addressed.

Ray Breitenbach writes for Simple Home Repairs. Please visit for more information on how to perform you own basic home repairs

Looking for a Nice Quiet House? Better Check the Plumbing

(ARA) - With all the environmental noise in our high-tech society, its little wonder that peace and quiet have become highly prized luxuries. Noise ordinances are regularly sought and passed to control everything from the volume of recreational watercraft to the backfire of car engines. In most neighborhoods, residents are restricted from making noise or playing stereos loudly before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m. as a courtesy to other neighbors. There is even a Noise Pollution Clearinghouse that exists on the Internet to help reduce noise pollution and create an awareness of its various sources.

But noise isnt restricted to the great outdoors. Inside, there are equally as many sources of noise disturbance, including squeaky floors or doors, rattling windows, a dripping faucet or a toilet that continues to run. Manufacturers have invested heavily into technologies that make todays dishwashers, washing machines and even refrigerators much quieter. Homeowners routinely pay extra for additional soundproofing procedures and insulation between living spaces.

With all the noise to deal with, its easy to overlook one primary source -- the homes plumbing system. Plumbing pipe can be the source of two types of noise -- the sound of water flowing through the pipes and what is commonly referred to as water hammer, the banging or knocking sound thats heard within copper piping systems due to pressure surges that occur, for example, when a shower is turned off suddenly or when a washing machine changes cycles. A shock wave results as the fluid inside the pipe decelerates sharply, causing the pressure to rise and the fluid to compress.

Unfortunately for homeowners, traditional copper pipe is rigid and, therefore, not capable of expanding. Compounding the problem, copper has very poor insulating properties; consequently, any noise in the system is transmitted throughout the home. An alternative material, CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), is not only less rigid than copper, it also has superior insulating properties.

In an effort to determine how much noise results and is transmitted in metallic pipe and how much noise could be reduced with the installation of a CPVC piping system that offers superior insulating qualities, NSF International, a well recognized, independent testing lab, conducted testing designed to compare noise levels between FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe and copper pipe.

These tests documented the noise level (average of three tests) for the FlowGuard Gold 3/4 inch pipe at 35.9 dBA versus 55.4 for the 3/4 inch Type M Rigid copper pipe. To put the 19.5 dBA sound level difference between the two pipes in perspective, it was concluded by NSF that the copper pipe was four times louder (as the human ear interprets sound level) than the FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe.

To compare the difference another way, consider that the human whisper at 25 dBA approximates the noise level of water running through a FlowGuard Gold pipe, versus a washing machine at 65 dBA, which is closer to the level of noise of water flowing through a copper pipe.

Other common noise levels register as follows:

* Rustle of leaves - less than 20 decibels

* Normal human conversation - between 60 and 70 decibels

* Busy street traffic - between 70 and 80 decibels

* Locomotive - approximately 90 decibels

* Jack hammer - approximately 100 decibels

* Rocket ship - between 110 and 120 decibels

In addition to its quieter operation, FlowGuard Gold CPVC pipe has been gaining in popularity and is being installed in more homes for other reasons, as well. The foremost reason is reliability. Unlike copper which is subject to corrosion and pinhole leaks that can lead to premature failure, CPVC pipe will never pit or corrode. This also means it will never leach harmful metals into the homes drinking water. In addition, it will never scale like copper, which allows it to retain full water-carrying capacity. And, its easier and safer to install because it utilizes an innovative, one-step solvent cement bond which does not require a torch for soldering.

To learn more how the selection of the right plumbing product can minimize noise in your home, as well as the many other benefits of CPVC plumbing, visit www.flowguardgold.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Basic Plumber Tools To Keep Around

You never know what kind of emergency might pop up unexpectedly around the house. That?s why everyone has some basic tools in the home to be prepared. For the same reason, it is important to keep around some basic plumber tools for any of those minor repairs you may need to do. You don?t have to be an expert on plumbing, but you need to know basic repairs to at least hold off until the expert shows up.

Items To Keep In Your Plumber Tools Kit

The most commonly used of the plumber tools are the water-pump pliers. Sometimes these are also called plumber?s pliers or even channel-lock pliers. The serrated teeth on the pliers help you hold on tight to the pipe. The are necessary because any other tool would make it near impossible to hold on well to the pipe.

Another of the plumber tools that needs to be available is the adjustable open-end wrench. This tool can sometimes be all you need when there is a leak, because the problem could just be a loose nut-bolt. So the job of the adjustable open-end wrench is to tighten any loose nut-bolts. Since the nut-bolts can be various sizes, you will need a few different sizes of the adjustable open-end wrench to accommodate them.

Tightening the pipe can be done using a pipe wrench. Keeping this with your plumber tools is nice because the pipe wrench can place a lot of pressure on the pipe without changing the pipe?s shape. Without this tool, you could end up damaging the pipe and creating an even bigger problem. Since one of the main reasons for owning plumber tools is to save money by doing it yourself, making a bigger mess would defeat the purpose and cause you to pay a lot for someone to come in and make repairs.

If you have ever tried to loosen or tighten nuts and bolts under a sink, you know how difficult it can be. That?s why you will need to add a basin wrench to your plumber tools. The basin wrench makes it easier to loosen and tighten nuts and bolts because of its convenient shape.

If you are looking to do more than minor repairs, you will want to consider having a pipe cutter, reaper, and emery cloth in the mix of your plumber tools. A pipe cutter can make precise cuts in the pipe, while a reamer can get rid of the residue in the pipe. Then you can use the emery cloth to clean the pipe. Just make sure that if you plan to do these repairs, you follow directions to the letter and follow all safety rules.

Other helpful things to add to the plumber tools kit are washers, threads, pipe cleaning tools, joint compound, Teflon tape, nuts and bolts, etc. After you have combined all the plumber tools mentioned in this article, you will have spend about $100-200. This isn?t bad for a home owner, especially considering the money you can save by doing your own repairs.

Mike Walker is SEO of plumbinggreat.com, his goal is to give latest Plumbing info including plumbing contractor and diy. Learn and print all about plumbing, from plumbing contractor to DIY.

Thawing Frozen Pipes Without a Plumber

After a hard long day, isn't it nice to wind down with a nice hot bath or shower? What happens in the winter though, when you go to turn on that water, only to find out that your pipes are frozen? Below are some tips on how to thaw those pipes and some tips on how to prevent them from freezing, without having to call a plumber.

Your first concern should whether or not pipes have or will crack or burst. As water freezes it expands, which could mean trouble for your pipes. Be sure to turn all faucets that are affected on. This will help to relieve pressure and also let you know as pipes become unfrozen. This may also help with the thawing process as moving water can help break up the ice - especially the hot water.

The next thing you need to do is locate that frozen pipe or pipes. Start by searching for any exposed piping, especially next to any uninsulated foundation walls or exterior walls. Also look under sink and vanity cabinets as they can be shut off from room heat. To limit potential damage (if the pipe has cracked), cut off the water supply to that pipe, either at a local valve or the main water supply.

Now to the act of thawing those pipes. Use of tools that require an electrical outlet can be used but exercise extreme caution - water and electricity is a dangerous combination. But such tools that can be employed are: hair dryers, heat lamps, electrical heat tapes and space heaters. What is most recommended is wrapping the pipes in towels soaked with hot water. Re-submerge the towels into hot water every few minutes or pour hot water over them every few minutes. Tools such as torches or heating guns are not recommended. They are a high fire hazard and can create an excess of steam in the pipe, causing it to burst.

To help prevent your pipes from freezing you can do a few things. You can go to your local hardware store and purchase electric-heating tape or insulation for your pipes. Also make sure all areas with exposed pipe are protected from freezing whether. This may entail sealing off any crawl spaces, making sure windows are not cracked or using a space heater in some areas which do not get good protection.

Best Plumbing Resource is your guide for plumbing tips and finding a plumber within your area.

DIY Bathroom Plumbing

Have been thinking about remodeling your bathroom? Wondering if it's a project you can handle yourself? Why not start with DIY bathroom plumbing and before you know it you'll be redoing the entire bathroom all by yourself.

You've got to start with a plan. What is it you want to do with your bathroom? DO you want to complete strip it out? Change out the fixtures? Or do you want to give it just a partial facelift? Once you decide you need to move fore ward to budget. For this article lets assume you are going to redo the entire bathroom from top to bottom.

A budget of $4000 wouldn't be unrealistic. Here's a rough list of what you might need to buy. Realize that the investment of $4000 is going to increase the value of your home substantially more.

Shower kit and door $800
Tub $450
Shower faucet $200
Vanity & Top $800
Faucet for Vanity $100
Toilet $200
Water Resistant Drywall $50
Floor Tile $200
Grout $20
Pre-hung door $80
Light Fixture $100
Mirror $100
Paint and Wallpaper $100
Rough Plumbing $800

Total $4000

If you are going to need some serious movement of existing sewer and water lines then you'll need to hire a plumber and that will be an additional cost however if all the new pieces are going in the same place as the old ones lived you should be able to avert this cost. It's very room dependent.

When it comes to starting your project safety needs to come first. That means you need to take all the precautions - wearing gloves, goggles for your eyes, a mask, or any other safety equipment that is necessary. Now lets get started:

1. Spread out the builder's paper to help trap all the demolition material. It's not 100% but it sure does help keep things in one place.

2. If you are tearing out walls now is the time to get busy. Nothing neat here just fly at it.

3. Next you will need to pull the fixtures - tub, sink, and toilet. Dismantle it all!

4. Once you have everything stripped out of the room it's time to do your cleanup.

5. The sub floor will be the first to go in and then any replacement dry wall.

6. Once that's been taken care of it is time to start the fixture installations. The tub and shower installation can be a big one so you may need some additional help.

7. After all the fixtures are in place you'll have the finishing touches such as lighting, flooring, and paint and wall paper.

How much plumbing changes you will need to make will depend on what is occurring in your bathroom. If fixtures are in the same place as the old ones your biggest plumbing job will be hooking up the new taps and the toilet. But if you moved things around you may have to redo some basic plumbing. You can attempt this yourself if you like or hire an experienced plumber. There are some great books and online resources that can help you complete this.

DIY bathroom plumbing doesn't have to be that difficult as long as you follow the directions. And with so many terrific resources around finding step by step help shouldn't be difficult at all. And won't you feel great when that bathroom is finished and you can take full credit for the transformation?

Carl has been a professional plumber in a company he owns for more than 10 years not only is he experience in unclogging just about anything but also an expert in installing plumbing fixtures and installing new water lines. Carl will give you some helpful tips on plumbing installation when you visit http://www.alliedesolutions.com

Plumbing Design: Why it is Important

Your plumbing design for your home is very important. You need to be sure that everything is connected properly, and is going to the right place. What happens when you do not have a good design is something you will not want to experience. If you are building a new home, be sure that you hire a professional that will make sure that all of this is taken care of and you will not have to worry about it. The plumbing professional will ensure that all is connected, tightly, and you will have the plumbing that you need for the most efficient use of your water as well.

When you have a poor plumbing design, you might be experiencing things such as the kitchen sink gurgling when your washing machine drains, your toilet and bath tub might even be backing up as well. This is something you will not want to experience, not only will you have to call your plumber, you will have a mess to clean up that might be rather large. To prevent all of this, you need to make sure that your design is one that will work from the beginning. You will not want to get your house built to later find out that you have these problems because of the design, then it will be too late to change it and do anything about it.

When you hire a plumber to take care of your pluming design, make sure that you get a professional that has a great reputation for doing his job. When you do this, you can be sure that you will get the best design possible for your home, and the plumber will do a good job with what he has to work with. Talk to your plumber as well, and cover all of your options. If you do not know what your plumber is talking about when he is talking about the plumbing, ask him to show you. You want to understand how your plumbing is set up in case you ever decide to remodel, you will know what is going on.

Taking care in who you hire to do your plumbing will have a huge effect on your plumbing design. Do not just hire anyone to do this job, and if you do not know what you are doing, you should not be doing it yourself. You will be glad that you let a professional take care of this and did not tackle the job yourself when you have no idea what you are doing. Any professional plumber that is good at what they do should be able to give you a good design. Make sure that you check references before you just hire anyone, and you will be happy that you checked them out first.

Carl has been a professional plumber in a company he owns for more than 10 years not only is he experience in unclogging just about anything but also an expert in installing plumbing fixtures and installing new water lines. Carl will give you some helpful tips on plumbing installation when you visit http://www.alliedesolutions.com

Never Rely on Your Plumbing Expectations

We in the 21st Century living in a developed Country are totally, totally spoiled. Just ask anyone who lives in a developing Country.

Better still; try living in one yourself for some time rather than just passing through as a tourist living in 5 star luxuries.

It was 20 years ago that I lived in Malaysia for 3 years. I loved living in Georgetown on Penang Island. The people were beautiful, the scenery breathtaking and the food from the Mukan stall’s delicious and cheap.

Some of the backstreets though where the poorer people lived and survived were not always so delectable or pleasant. The open “Mony drains” were either so deep you would think they were dug out by a miner, or so shallow they were virtually useless. Mony drains were short for monsoon drains due to the tropical downpours that came through every 3 months as the monsoon passed over on its way south then on its way north again.

Now this is where I really appreciated plumbing. We, of course, being among the blessed elite, had ‘normal’ plumbing in our house with running water.

The difference was that this water was released into our outside “mony drain” that ran around our house and into a larger drain which ran into a larger drain etc until it ran out to where ever was the great meeting place for all mony drains.

Every week our wonderful, cheerful gardener came with his tin of ‘goodies’, hard scrubbing brush and scrubbed our drains for us.

There was one outside tap for use in the garden and it was located at the front of our house. On this tap we had a long hose that reached around the back of our house. Yes, you’re right, Nothing unusual about that.

We lived in a cul-de-sac with 3 houses. The last house had a really beautiful garden with a very attractive spirit house out the back. If I had been an ancestor, I would have been honoured to have lived there but I was a neighbour instead.

But as neighbours, we had a problem that went beyond different languages.

Their gardener raked the leaves off their perfect lawn and burned them in front of our house. Often long after our Amah Devi had put the washing on the line to dry.

Because it ‘got smoked,’ she used to bring it in and re-do it, which really wasn’t remotely fair.

We asked nicely, we asked again, and again and again. We spoke with the owner of the house, his wife, the mother-in-law grandmother, the gardener many, many times. We even had a solicitor write a letter to them in Bahasa requesting that they stop causing us this problem.

But they continued to light the fire to burn the leaves directly out the front of our house.

This particular day I came back from walking the kids to the school bus and they were out the front about to light the fire again. I approached them and asked them not to and pointed to the washing hanging on our line. It was the grandmother and the gardener and she was telling the gardener to ignore me and light the fire. He continued to hesitate because he was a kind hearted man and knew he was causing extra work for Devi.

I pointed to the tap in front of our house and went and got the hose. I turned the tap on full-bore, kinked the hose to hold the water back and hauled it through the front gate to where the fire was now burning.

I unkinked the hose expecting to see the usual gush of water sprout forth and it went drip…drip…drip…

I couldn’t help myself. I burst out laughing and laughing and the grandmother joined in. The gardener didn’t quite know what to do but his grin said it all.

The grandmother came over and gave me a kindly pat on the arm, told the gardener to put the fire out and whatever else she said but we never had a fire lit there again.

Now that was probably the only time in my life I have been grateful for bad plumbing. jan@constructingprofits.com http://www.constructingprofits.com Showing contractors how to make more money ~ working fewer hours

Deciding When To Hire A Plumber For Plumbing Help

Life would not be very comfortable or smell very nice if we did not have proper water systems in place within our homes and offices. As with any system that is used on a daily basis, the essential elements that make up your water supply system eventually start to break down, requiring a good deal of maintenance. Kitchen and bathroom taps and faucets start to weaken and corrode.

Toilet seals set against the floor start to develop soft spots and wear, leading to potential leaking and flooding problems. When possible you should really try to learn the basic elements of the plumbing systems in your home in the event that you need to explain your plumbing problem to a contractor or even (gulp) decide to attempt the project yourself.

Not all plumbing help jobs require years of experience or expensive tools to accomplish. The main thing to remember is that you should always evaluate the particular problem you have to do and decide if you are up to do the work. Do not let your pride talk you into attempting a job that is clearly out of your grasp. You will only end up regretting your decision.

Plumbing Readiness

There is no real way to accurately predict when you are going to have a plumbing emergency. One night you lay down to have a good sleep and the next morning you are wondering what to do with the new pool of wastewater in your basement. There are some minor problems that you can try tackling yourself, like fixing a leaky tap. However, there is always going to be those jobs that simply scream out to be handled by a professional. In addition, in this situation, that is not you.

Sometimes trying to do the work yourself can make the mess worse though so be wary of your decision to jump in and work on any plumbing problem yourself. There are some things you can do to try to minimize damage though, while waiting for the plumbing help to arrive. If the problem is a leaky pipe joint, try to seal the leaking area with tape or cloth. If the leak is too bad, find and turn off the main water valve in your home and call for professional plumbing help.

Helpful Tips

Even people, who know a lot about plumbing need help once in awhile, so do not feel shy about asking for help for your renovation project or plumbing emergency. You never know when you are going to need professional assistance so always make sure you find and keep a reputable plumber’s contact information nearby. To find a good plumber, do not be afraid to ask your friends and family or even the people you work with, to recommend a good plumber they have dealt with before. The yellow pages are not the best place to find a plumber because anyone can advertise their services, regardless of how badly they provide them.

When you are up to your waist in a plumbing help emergency, you do not want to be concerned with finding the best plumbing help at the cheapest rate. This is the reason that you should find someone capable and reputable before you need his services.

You can also find more info on Plumbers and Basement Plumbing. i-plumbing.com is a comprehensive resource to known about plumbing.

How to Tackle a Leaking Tap without a Plumber

It’s nice when the man of the house is a jack of all trades. Knowing a little carpentry, knowing about electrical issues, and being able to perform a little plumbing is a great asset. However, some men aren’t as handy as others, and a plumbing problem such as a tap leak can send you running straight for the telephone to call a plumber.

Having a leaking tap is very terrible! What if all the plumbers were out for a vacation during summer? Would you wait for the next season before your leaking problems be fixed? Of course not, and the bottom line is that you could probably handle this yourself regardless. Maybe it’s time to put down the phone and learn a little bit about handling the small jobs yourself.

If you have never experienced fixing a leaking tap your whole life, this is the perfect time to practice. Remember to be patient, especially if this is your first time doing this. You can’t expect to transform into a plumber at the drop of a hat.

If you don’t have a clue on how to fix a leaking tap, look for old books in your house. There might be some easy and quick steps on how to fix it yourself. It would be better to look for the pages with illustrations in it so you can go through it properly and follow the procedures at once.

Here are some simple steps that might help you fix that leak. You need to have some equipment such as screw drivers or wrenches. You will also need a new washer to replace the old one. Patience is the last thing that you need in order to successfully manage that leaking tap.

First, find a shirt that is not your favorite. Of course plumbing is not a very clean process so you should wear a shirt that is used only at home. Find something that is comfortable. Be ready to face dirt and all slime and indulge in a bath later.

Now, turn off the main cork. Be ready to get things started. Next, you should take a spanner and uncork the top of the tap. If you have finished removing it, remove the damaged or the broken washer and replace it with a new one. The replacement you will be using should be durable and with high quality. Now you can cover it again and you should tighten it with a spanner so that it will not leak again.

Now your job is already done and it was fun and easy right? Now, if that tap leaks again, you can easily do it next time without the help of the plumber.

Jo Williams has an interest in Home & Garden and Leaking Tap, for more FREE information and articles please visit Leaking Tap Resources