Plumbing On A Budget: 4 Creative Methods That Will Help You Save Money When Doing Plumbing Repairs
Finding out that you have a plumbing problem and need to call for service can fill your heart with dread. Plumbers are highly skilled professionals, but that skill comes at a cost. While there are times when you should call in the experienced people to help with a repair, there are other times when you can save money by doing it yourself at home. Here are four creative ways to save money on your own plumbing repairs.
Get the Shop Vacuum
Yes, it sounds a little strange, but you can use the shop vacuum to loosen clogs. This doesn’t always work, but it can be highly effective when the clog isn’t that far down the drain. Use a washcloth or rag to wrap the hose on your shop vacuum and get a tighter seal against the drain. Make sure your shop vacuum has a long enough hose as well.
Plunge the Right Way
A plumber in Canada that does drain cleaning in Calgary has said that plungers work by building pressure and causing the blockage to shift. Once it starts to move, it’s easier to start breaking it apart. However, most people don’t plunge the right way. In a double-basin sink, the side you’re not plunging should be sealed off with the plug. In a single basin, the emergency drain should be covered with your finger or a rag. If you’re plunging the bathtub, make sure to close off the emergency drain that’s located on the wall of the bathtub.
Take Parts to the Store With You
Don’t reuse the rusty, corroded parts that came off your appliance. They’re likely to fail again in the future, and you don’t want to deal with going through the labor twice. While you have parts exposed and accessible, go ahead and replace them. Take the originals to the store with you to ensure that you pick up the right pieces and avoid making another trip. You’re also able to show a plumbing specialist the wear on the part, and they’ll be able to tell you whether you need a whole new part, or if there are repairs that can be done to the existing part, which could be an obvious money saver.
Visit the Kitchen Before Unclogging Drains
Head to the kitchen for white vinegar and baking soda when you have a slow drain. Put about a cup of baking soda in the drain, and follow it with a half-cup of vinegar. Immediately cover the drain to help keep everything down in the pipes. Give it about 30 minutes and then run hot water down the line. This is highly effective with drains that are just starting to get slow, and they can help you avoid the expense of a professional plumbing visit later.
Follow these tips to save a little money on plumbing repairs. When you’re working on fresh water lines, remember to shut down the water and bleed the affected lines before you open them up. This will help you avoid the misery of a flood and potential structural damage.
Category: Home Repair
