Plumbing is a key component in any modern home, playing an important part in delivering clean water to the property and also removing waste and wastewater. Cold and hot water lines run throughout the house to ensure that each faucet, shower, tub, and water-using appliance has direct access to clean water. Drainage lines also connect to these fixtures to efficiently dispose of dirty water and waste.
While plumbing systems may seem daunting at first glance, there are actually a wide range of plumbing jobs that can be completed by an eager-to-learn DIYer with a little patience, a little skill, and the right tools.
Bob Vila’s collection of guides and how-to articles can help guide you toward becoming your own plumber, so you won’t need to call in the pros for every repair, maintenance task, or upgrade.
The first step in DIY plumbing is to put together a tool kit, then inspect the plumbing system to determine where all the critical parts are located around the home, including the , water heater, main drain stack, and more. It’s also worth noting that some homes may have additional plumbing components, like an irrigation system or boiler, though whether these add-ons are present or not varies between properties.
Tackle minor plumbing jobs when you first get started in order to become more comfortable with the plumbing system. Unclog the toilet, snake the drain, replace the shower head, or even repair a running toilet to practice your plumbing skills while maintaining and updating the home. Rely on informative how-to articles and detailed DIY guides like this one to learn how to be your own plumber.
Before starting any plumbing jobs around the home, it’s necessary to gather several important tools.
Without the right equipment, plumbing repairs and upgrades can be significantly more difficult to complete. Generally, DIY plumbers will use plungers, drain snakes, and Channellock pliers more than any other tools because they are required to complete the majority of simple household plumbing tasks.
However, as your skills as a DIY plumber improve, you may decide to take on more complex plumbing projects, like fixing a leaky pipe, resolving low water pressure problems, or even replacing a shut-off valve. These jobs typically require a broader assortment of plumbing tools and supplies, such as a hacksaw, torch, or drain auger.
Make sure your tool kit includes the following tools of the trade to help handle DIY plumbing projects on the way to .
Among the most common DIY plumbing jobs are replacing a faucet, repairing a sink stopper, and unclogging a sink. Beginners can start with simple tasks like cleaning out a faucet aerator by carefully removing the aerator from the faucet, rinsing out debris, soaking the aerator in a vinegar cleaning solution, then reinstalling the aerator.
The following guides provide informative, step-by-step instructions for how to accomplish each plumbing task from beginning to end.
You’ll also learn what products are safe to use for clearing clogs, as well as how to troubleshoot problems with sinks or faucets to keep the home running efficiently.
MORE ON SINKS AND FAUCETS:
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Clogged toilets are so common that most households will have a plunger nearby, just in case someone uses too much toilet paper, causing the toilet to back up and overflow.
However, DIY plumbers should also learn how to troubleshoot a running toilet, replace a flush valve, and repair a fill valve to ensure that the toilet continues to function properly without wasting water.
Check out the list of helpful how-to guides and educational articles below to learn more about how a toilet works, what components can be repaired, and what parts of the toilet should be replaced when a problem arises. Plus, peruse some of the most efficient toilet options available today in case you were thinking about upgrading one or more of the bathrooms in the house.
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Showers and bathtubs are essential additions to any home, providing a waterproof retreat to wash away the dirt, sweat, and grime of the day. Don’t settle for low-pressure showers, slow draining tubs, and leaking faucets when DIY plumbers can learn how to replace a shower head, reseal a tub, unclog the drain, install a new shower valve, and more.
The articles below can help you by providing detailed step-by-step instructions to complete a variety of shower and bathtub maintenance and repair jobs. Find information on different repair methods and learn how to troubleshoot difficult issues to determine the cause and fix the problem.
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Water-using appliances, like dishwashers, clothes washers, and water heaters, should be properly maintained to ensure they operate efficiently and last as long as possible before needing to be replaced. This can include flushing a water heater, replacing the hoses on a dishwasher, or fixing a hot water inlet valve to prevent it from leaking behind the clothes washer.
Bob Vila’s tutorials about garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more can help you tackle simple plumbing repairs and maintenance tasks around the house. Discover how to troubleshoot appliance issues, make DIY repairs, or complete full replacement projects without needing to
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MORE ON PLUMBING APPLIANCES:
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