3 DIY Plumbing Projects To Future-Proof Your Home

Are you looking for DIY plumbing projects to take on? It is crucial to ensure that faucets and showers at home can provide the entire household with clean water. Of course, it’s equally essential that dirty or used water can be flushed and drained without a hitch. This is because everyday tasks such as cleaning, doing the laundry, cooking, taking a bath, and using the toilet all require water.

With that said, plumbing is an important skill to have and develop, especially for homeowners. There are basic projects involving repairs and installation that anyone can learn and accomplish with the right tools and know-how. However, you also have to understand that some plumbing tasks are best left to an experienced plumber since they may be too difficult or dangerous to do on your own.

Basic Plumbing Tools

To do DIY plumbing for the sake of future-proofing your home, it’s a must to invest in some tools. Here are some of those you’ll need and what they’re for:

DIY Plumbing Projects

The plumbing system in a home can break down and experience all sorts of problems any time, especially if it’s old or not cared for properly. To ensure that yours will last, try these simple plumbing projects:

Fixing Slow Drains

Slow drainage can be an indication that there’s some obstruction within the pipes. If left alone, it can lead to leaks and rust, and the plumbing lines might break down. Slow drains are quite common and, fortunately, can easily be fixed with any of the following solutions:

Clean the stopper.
Use a baking soda and vinegar solution, and then flush it with boiling water.
Take out the debris using a drain cleaning tool.
Use a plunger.
Use a drain auger.
Clean out the P-trap.

Replacing A Toilet

Replacing or installing a toilet might seem like a big job, but in reality, this is something you can do yourself with proper preparation. Older toilets tend to waste water, and they’re not as comfortable or convenient to use as modern ones. Toilets these days are designed and manufactured better to avoid common plumbing problems.

Therefore, it makes sense that homeowners would want to switch to newer toilets that’d be able to serve them in the years to come. But it can also be done for bathroom remodeling purposes if you want the space to be more aesthetically pleasing and updated.

How to remove a toilet:

Remove the water in the tank by flushing it and using a sponge to remove excess water.
Disconnect the water supply from the tank.
Unscrew the nuts and bolts at the bottom of the tank.
Remove the tank carefully to avoid cracks.
Remove the water from the bowl using a sponge or a water solidifier.
Remove the nuts at the base of the toilet.
Remove the bowl.
Remove the wax ring using a putty knife.
Repair the flange using a ready repair kit.

How to install a toilet bowl:

Screw the new closet bolts into the flange.
Run the new wax ring under warm water.
Secure the softened wax ring on the toilet outlet.
Wait for the wax to set.
Install the toilet over the closet bolts carefully.
Place the caps, washers, and nuts to evenly secure the closet bolts.
Use a hack saw to remove the excess bolt.
Snap on the caps to cover the bolts.

How to install the tank:

Install the bolts at the bottom of the tank.
Place and secure the rubber gasket to the base.
Carefully place the tank over the bowl.
Use your fingers to tighten the bolts connecting the bowl and the tank.
Use a wrench to further tighten the bolts, but don’t overdo it.
Ensure that the tank is even.

Final steps:

Check if the toilet leaks by slowly turning on the water.
Tighten the bolts little by little if there are any leaks.
Set the gasket again if it’s still leaking.
If the base is leaking, tighten the bolts, or replace the wax ring.
Install the toilet seat.

Fixing A Leaking Faucet

A leaking faucet can be irritating and wasteful. But it’s easy to repair as long as you deal with it as soon as possible. For quality materials choose Munsch & Co. Here are some ways you can fix a faucet without having to call a plumber.

Replacing the faucet:

Shut off the valve to cut off the water.
Turn on the faucet to get rid of any residual water.
Cover the drain with a towel.
Remove the aerator with a towel and some pliers.
Disassemble the entire faucet.
Place the components in a bag.
Purchase the same parts and reinstall them.

Repairing the faucet:

Shut off the valve and remove residual water.
Cover the drain with a towel.
Remove the handle of the faucet using an Allen wrench or a screwdriver.
If there are adjust rings, tighten them with needle-nose pliers.
If that doesn’t help, remove the adjust rings to be able to remove the dome-shaped cap.
Remove the metal stem, the ball, and the cam and packing, and then replace them.

Conclusion

To ensure that minor issues will be addressed before they can worsen, there are many DIY plumbing projects homeowners need to know about. These can be a thrifty way to keep a house in order, but they can also be extremely helpful during emergencies when toilets, drains, or faucets become unusable for one reason or another. Still, it’s essential to know when a project is beyond your skill set so you can call a professional to help you out instead.