Common Plumbing Hacks You Can Do Part 1

A leaky faucet might not seem like such a big thing, but over time all those tiny drips can lead to a huge utility bill and a lot of wasted water. While home repairs may seem pretty daunting, especially for young first-timers, it’s possible to do some minor fixes and preventative measures on your own, or to put in some cost saving measures to make sure your utility bill doesn’t hit the roof.

Everything in its Place

A multitude of things that get thrown down the drain/sink are surprisingly durable. These include paper towels, food waste, cigarette butts, legos (for some reason), and more. While the kitchen sink may look like the best way to dispose of the grease on your skillets and frying pans, we regret to inform you that it’s the last place you’d want to throw all that gunk. Over time all that grease will accumulate and lead to a clogged pipe. In the same vein, your toilet is not a trash bin. The only things that you should be disposing of in there are the stuff that your own body produces.

Declogging is Cheap

Okay, let’s assume that your pipes are already clogged and you know how to prevent clogs in the future. How do you unclog them NOW? For starters, you can use some steaming hot water to unclog your kitchen sink. It will melt and loosen up all the stuff that’s built up in your drain. For a shower head that’s already mineralized because of hard water, soaking it overnight in some vinegar ought to make the buildup soft and loose enough to scrub off. Remember to clean and dry the shower head unless you want to come out stinkier after bathing.

Free the Flush

A weak flush will lead to a stinky and dirty bathroom. If you notice that your “deposits” are leaving the toilet at a slower pace, get a sharp tool and poke around inside your toilet’s jet holes in order to unclog them and get your toilet’s flush back to full power. Having waste just floating in your toilet can lead to stinking up the john and the formation and releasing of bacteria into the air.

While these home hacks are more of preventative measures and fixes for minor issues, the bigger repairs should be left to the licensed experts like the plumbers we have here at Integrity Services & Plumbing. Give us a ring, and see how we can help keep your home fresh and clean.