There is nothing better than the feeling of owning a home, but aside from the cost of your bond, there is also home maintenance to take into account. In order to keep the value of your home up, and prevent costly repairs in the future, it helps to have a dab hand at DIY to ensure that you can do small repairs and fixes around the house.

One of the most frequent crises that befall homeowners is related to plumbing problems. You can save yourself a lot of money on callout fees and expensive plumbing repairs when you utilise the following tips:

Kitchen Plumbing DIY:

• To prevent clogged drains in your kitchen sink, avoid pouring liquid grease down the drain. This includes congealed grease from pots and pans, which can easily clog up the drain. In addition to this, throw food scraps off your plate into the rubbish bin, rather than washing bits of food down with the dishwater. Just because you’re able to squash those leftover bits down the drain, it doesn’t mean it is not accumulating somewhere in your pipes, potentially causing a future blockage.

• When the water pressure from your kitchen taps seems to be slowing down, and you find that you have to turn the taps on full force to get a decent flow, chances are it is time to check on your tap’s aerator. Lime and sediment build-up from the water can start to block the small openings inside the aerator, affecting water pressure. Keep the water flowing optimally by doing the following:
  • Carefully unscrew the aerator from the faucet by turning it counter-clockwise.
  • Remove the spray head and aerator from each other.
  • Dip a small paintbrush in vinegar and use it to remove the sediment deposit.
  • Put the aerator back together and screw it onto the faucet.

Bathroom Plumbing DIY:

• Once a week, run piping hot water down the drain, mixed with a dosage of drain cleaner. This helps to prevent build-up of soap scum and other hygiene products.

• Fit your bathtub and shower drain’s with strainers made to catch hair and soap, and clean them out regularly.

• It sounds obvious, but use the toilet purely for what it was made for. Sanitary products, cotton buds and facial tissues should be thrown into the bin, not the toilet. Incorrect disposal into the loo is the leading cause of a backed up toilet – which is an embarrassing plumbing nightmare! Instead, keep a wastebasket in your bathroom for disposable items.

• Don’t forget to tend to your showerhead. When your showerhead begins to distribute the spray of water unevenly, chances are that mineral deposits have clogged up its holes. In order to thoroughly clean your showerhead, do the following:

• • It’s time to use your DIY hardware! Using an adjustable wrench or pliers, unscrew the swivel ball nut and then unscrew the collar nut from the showerhead.
  • Use a thin piece of wire to clean the inlet and outlet holes of the showerhead, followed by a good rinse in clean water.
  • If you are dealing with tough mineral deposits, soak the showerhead in vinegar overnight.

• Regularly check your toilet for leaks so that you can nip them in the bud should they arise and become grievous plumbing problems.

With these simple plumbing maintenance tips in mind, all that’s left is for you to get some plumbing supplies at your local hardware store. Try and make a routine out of checking on dripping taps, leaking toilets and clogged up drains so that you can nip problems in the bud before they become costly and detrimental to your entire home’s plumbing system. spartan tool houston