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Simple Plumbing 101 for Beginners

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Melbourne Plumber

Common plumbing mistakes happen. You don’t want to find yourself searching for the issue only to find that you were wrong. Simple tasks can be done on your own, while others require the use of a professional. Here are some common problems that happen.

It’s Not the Ring!

Now you’ve done it, you dropped your ring down the sink. But it’s okay, this is a very common thing and an easy fix. Get the right tools and follow these simple steps and you can retrieve your ring.

First, you’re going to need is to stop running the water. To help save your floor you’re going to want to put a bucket underneath what is called the P-trap. The P-trap is the curved section right underneath the sink. You’re going to want to locate the access plug on the P-trap. Basically, you’re looking for the spot that you can unscrew the pipe.

Once you have removed the P-trap, water will spill out into the bucket if you placed it right. If you have newer pipes you probably won’t need to use a wrench and can loosen up the P-trap by hand. Once you have found your ring make sure to put the P-trap back and check for leaks.

Remember, if you make a mistake and mess up your pipes be sure to call a professional plumber immediately. A fast response can dramatically lower the repair costs.

Slow Shower Drain?

If your shower drain is going slow, chances are you have hair or some other objects causing the water to become backed up. Luckily, this is a very easy and common fix. The first thing you should try is to see if there’s anything covering the drain stopper.

Remove the stopper to view inside for obstructions. The easiest way to clean the drain is to use a drain snake. Simply put this down into the drain entrance and feel for any resistance. If you feel any resistance try pulling it out with the drain snake.

If you don’t have a drain snake try using baking soda and vinegar. Kind of like a high school project, it will expand so be prepared to have a reaction. Firstly, pour boiling water down the drain, then dump half a cup of baking soda into the drain. Add in one cup vinegar with one cup hot water right into the drain. Cover the drain plug to make sure that the reaction goes down instead of back out. Then finally poor some more warm water down the drain after the reaction has taken place. This works on just about any sink or drain that has a problem. It is eco-friendlier than most chemical cleaners.

Still have a problem? Contact a plumber that can provide some more assistance!