We sat down with an actual plumber and picked his brain about what are some of the easy or quick fixes people can do in their home to save money. These are the answers that he gave us.
Sink and Drain Clog
There are a few ways you can approach these issues. If the drain is simply a little slower than you would like it to be you can employ the vinegar and baking soda trick. As you may know, these two items react with one another causing a chemical reaction. One is super acidic while the other is basic.
First you sprinkle some baking soda into the drain and let it rest for a few minutes. Then slowly pour in the vinegar. You will see and/or hear the fizzing reaction. This will knock loose some of the substances which are causing the clog. You can repeat it several times to get the desired result. If this doesn’t work, our plumber in Melbourne, Florida recommends trying the next step.
Purchase a cheap plumbing snake from your local hardware store and shove it down your drain. Spin the dial at least ten times to clean out any gunk which may have formed. This will usually do the trick.
You can try the chemical drain cleaners but be forewarned that they can damage your pipes. They are a very harsh chemicals which will eat away at your clog but can also do the same to your pipes.
Toilet Tank Doesn’t Refill
Before you replace the entire mechanism inside the tank or call the plumber, try twisting the plastic screw-looking part on the flushing device. This tiny adjustment may be all that is needed to get the part that floats working again.
Also, you can try using a water pick to flush out the spaces in-between the working parts. Sometimes sediment can get in there and gunk up the works.
Watch Youtube Videos
A lot can be learned by watching someone else do it. No matter what your issue is, there is probably a Youtube video for it. They have videos for leaky faucets, toilets that won’t stop running, dripping shower heads, leaky pipes, you name it. Dive right in and feel free to watch more than just one on the topic. There may be great information in two separate videos that you can marry together to create the perfect fix.
Last Resort: Call the Plumber
If everything to this point hasn’t worked then it is a good idea to call your local professional plumber. Check reviews on Google and make sure to get a plumber with years of experience and good reviews. 4.5 + stars is preferable.
Calling a plumber will not be cheap. Just to come out to your location you are looking at a few hundred bucks. This is because your plumber is licensed and trained and has apprenticed for many years to be able to handle these calls. It’s also dirty work. It takes a good amount of money to pay someone to work on drains, pipes and toilets because it isn’t the most pleasant of working environments.
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