Archive for the ‘Bathroom’ Category
Teflon tape is very handy.
When most people think about helpful tape, they think about duct tape. Sure, duct tape is a great tool and should be considered a must-have in your tool shed or garage, but what about teflon tape?
Teflon tape can be very handy around the house - but you want to make sure that you know how to use it before you start trying to fix your plumbing problems with it. In this article, you'll find some tips and suggestions for using teflon tape in the most efficient and practical way possible. Doing so is simple: use it when it will help and keep it up on the shelf in the garage when you don't need it.
When is it a good idea to use teflon tape? It applies best to the "threaded" ends of pipes in order to make sure that the pipe is fully watertight. Consider it an extra layer that is designed to keep all of the moisture where it belongs - inside the pipe. For this reason, teflon works best when you're sealing off the ends the threaded ends of pipes. For more information on better using teflon tape, see this article at AcmeHowTo.com. Follow their instructions for properly applying teflon tape.
You'll also find some detailed instructions at Howsed.com's teflon tape suggestions. Note that Howsed's article also deals with pipe dope and channel locks, which are other ways of doing similar things to plumbing that teflon tape does.
When applying the teflon tape, you'll want to make sure to apply it clockwise, as Howsed.com describes, and also make sure that it is properly applied to the pipe - you don't want to apply it in the wrong direction or the wrong place.
Be thorough when you're working with teflon tape - and make sure that you're equipped to diagnose what problem needs teflon tape to begin with. When you're working on your plumbing yourself, you should have a basic knowledge of how all of these things work in order to make sure that you apply it properly - if you're unsure, be sure to ask a professional for some help. If you ever call in a plumber and want to eventually work on do-it-yourself projects, be sure to ask them specific questions - even if you bother them a little, you'll end up with some (hopefully) helpful tips you can use in the future.
Photo Credits: Aeturnum
Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:08:20.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 21, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
How to Update Your Bathroom
One of the things that says you like to take care of guests in your home is the quality of your bathrooms. Not only do people want privacy and cleanliness, but they appreciate an ambiance and at atmosphere that suggests you've thought of everything around your home. For the do-it-yourselfer, the bathroom also presents some interesting challenges in and of itself.
For one, you have to work with plumbing when you're updating a bathroom. This is in addition to the rest of the work, including cabinets, floors, and walls. But if you follow a detailed plan, follow through with it, and are willing to adapt to obstacles, you might just be able to update your bathroom efficiently. Here are some steps for doing just that.
1. If you don't have experience, don't start with the bathroom. The bathroom is not exactly do-it-yourselfer rookie territory. As has been mentioned, issues like plumbing are combined with electricity and upholstery in order to make a perfect storm of difficulty for the first-time homeowner. If you want a new bathroom, you simply might think about hiring a contractor. At the very least, don't make updating your bathroom your first project. Start with your basement - where you can at least start from scratch - and build up your experience. You'll be glad you did.
2. Seek out some professional advice. One of the most important things you can do when updating a bathroom is not to treat it like it's your own personal pet project. Make it a community effort - listen to your spouse's take on the look of the bathroom and be willing to get some consultation from a contractor, or even outsource some of the work that you can't handle, like the plumbing. Remember that there's no shame in not doing it all yourself - if someone asks how you did it, you can be perfectly honest. Don't get caught up in your own ideas so much that you forget why you're doing this in the first place.
3. Measure twice, cut once. The old adage "measure twice, cut once" also applies to bathrooms: make sure that your preparations are clear and definitive. You'll want to be as thorough as possible. But don't let exhaustive preparations become a reason for you to forget actually following through on your blueprints. Get to work after you've "measured twice," and set a schedule for yourself. If you get behind, at least be willing to work on it a little bit every day so that you can keep your momentum going.
Photo Credits: brooklyn
Originally posted 2009-07-28 08:00:10.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 18, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix
Do you feel a draft?
One of the tools with the most uses around the house is simple: duct tape. A few rolls of duct tape in your tool shed will help you construct a temporary fix around most things, and will help to make sure that more brittle objects like glass can be rounded off so that they pose less of a safety threat. When it comes to the minor inconveniences, duct tape can deliver there, too. That's why you can repair a torn shower curtain with duct tape. Still curious as to how it's done? Let's explore.
If you tear a shower curtain down, it can puncture each hole that is meant for each of the shower rings - this leads to a "torn piece of paper from a notebook effect" that most people think means they have to go showerless. But in the time between a trip to the local home improvement store, you'll have to get by with a shower or two, especially if you have family in your home. Won't taping each individual hole require too much time and effort?
As it turns out, not if you're creative with your rolls of duct tape. Instead of taping up each hole, simply create a side of duct tape where all of the shower ring holes used to be - this double-sided duct tape edge should have as little adhesive showing as possible. This isn't totally necessary, of course, but it helps make things easier and more comfortable.
Now that you have a side of your shower curtain taped over with duct tape - the side with all of the ring holes - you'll need a way to put that side back up on the shower rings. You can do this by punching your own holes in the curtain and duct tape, essentially creating a new side of the shower curtain for temporary use. Hole punches can work if your rings are small, but you might need some larger holes if your rings are large and plastic. To do this, simply punch a hole and then poke it through with a wooden dowel or a similar object that will expand the hole.
Once you've done this a few times, you should be ready to put your repaired shower curtain up. It won't look like the best shower curtain you've ever used, but it will help ensure that you can close off your shower before buying a new curtain. If you're worried about splashing water out of the shower tub, you won't have to worry anymore; you'll be all set. Just another day in the life of a roll of duct tape.
Photo Credits: massdistraction
Originally posted 2009-08-14 03:48:27.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 17, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, Shower
Get Rid of Rust
When it comes to the bathroom, there's nothing we want to see in there except anything that's brightly-colored. Yellows, greens, rusts, and especially browns are often strictly forbidden in many peoples' bathrooms. So when a rust color starts appearing in your toilet and you can't simply clean it off with a quick swipe of the toilet brush, you know you've got a rust problem - and it needs to go away quickly. So how exactly do you do that? Well, luckily, you've come to the right place: here you'll find out how to get rid of those pesky stains once and for all.
First, you'll have to check your own home for rust remover. If you live by yourself and don't remember buying any, you'll probably want to head to the local hardware store or appropriate retail outlet to buy a rust remover. Don't assume that your ordinary, around-the-kitchen cleaners will work in removing this rust. Instead, make sure that you know you have something that works.
What works? Well, you can start with a dedicated product like Shaw's Pads. What are these pads? They're simple cleaning devices made specifically for eliminating the kinds of stains you're facing in your toilet or bathtub. The web site may not look like much, but hey - if it works, it works.
There are other products available that can help remove the stains in your toilet. Look for a "Pumice stick" at your hardware store. All you do is take the stick and rub it against the stain, working up a "paste" that will help you clean off the stain, which you can then simply flush down the toilet.
Perhaps what's important in addressing toilet stains is what you don't do. The solutions to a toilet stain are relatively simple once you know them; but if you don't know how to fix them, you'll want to do your research first! Since this article has started you off in the right direction, you should have a better idea of how to eliminate those pesky toilet rust stains. Feel free to eliminate rust stains on similar bathroom fixtures like sinks and bath tubs, as well.
Remember, home improvement doesn't necessarily start with the tools; it starts with your knowledge. The more you know about what works and what doesn't, the quicker and safer your repairs will be.
Photo Credits: Fermion
Originally posted 2009-10-02 03:45:03.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 15, 2010 in
Bathroom, home repair, toilet
Cold showers?
If you're like me, you don't particularly like that first few minutes of taking a shower when the water is running and you're waiting for it to warm up. You'd rather simply jump right in, not waste any water, and get the shower over with so you can move on with your day. If you're sick of wasting water and wasting time - even if it's just a few minutes, a quick fix on your cold shower head can improve the quality of your life. Even if it's just those few minutes each day!
Here are a few tips to fixing that cold shower head and getting your next shower to be warm in an instant.
- Take a shower after you use water elsewhere. If you're really short on ideas but need to take a quick, warm shower, try this: shower in "batches." That is, take a shower right after someone else in the morning. Their usage of the water will ensure that it's warm for you right away, and you'll be able to climb right in without missing a beat. Just make sure that you don't wait at the door until they're finished! (One note: You don't only have to wait until someone else takes a shower. If someone is using hot water from the same water heater your shower uses, keep in mind that it could be a great time to take a shower if you need it.
- Install a tankless water heater. If you want to spend a few bucks so you don't have to wait until someone else has used hot water, but you don't want to break your bank account, either, try and install a tankless water heater. What is a tankless water heater? Quite simply, they are water heaters that work locally to cover some of your bathrooms - in other words, it's a water heater that doesn't heat up your whole house. This can be great for bathrooms if you have a family that needs hot water in the mornings but at different times. It's also less expensive than simply purchasing an entirely new water heater.
Like so many aspects of home improvement, fixing your cold shower head starts by looking at your problem from its cause. You really can enjoy hotter showers if you use a little imagination and get proactive with your home improvement.
Photo Credits: sburke2478
Originally posted 2009-10-06 03:04:02.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 3, 2010 in
Bathroom, Shower, home repair
Leaky Toilet Flange? No problem!
When we see some sort of liquid forming around the bottom of our toilet, we tend to get a little peeved. After all, with all of the liquids that form the usual daily traffic around a toilet flange, this means that a broken toilet might mean some dirty repairs. If you're curious about how to fix a leaking toilet flange so that you won't have to worry about it again - and so that you can stay dry the rest of the day - you've come to the right place.
First, you'll have to diagnose that the problem is with the flange itself and not with some other spot on the toilet. Sometimes, your toilet might not even be broken - a son or daughter might have gotten bathwater in the wrong spot. But if the toilet is rocking more than it should, you'll probably want to take a look at the flange underneath, which means pulling your toilet out of its place.
Once you look at the flange leading into the plumbing underneath, you should have a better idea of what's going on with your toilet. You can usually see if your flange is broken because there aren't many parts that go into its connection with the toilet: check that connection and see if anything has snapped or has become loose.
In order to repair the leaking flange, you'll actually want to replace as much of it as you can - you can buy a new toilet flange at a hardware store, or even purchase a "spanner flange" that only partially reinforces your flange in case you don't want to repair the entire object. Unscrew the part of the toilet flange you want to lift up - you can use a power drill if need be - and then remove the toilet bolt. (Note: if the toilet bolt is the problem, be sure to replace this, as well.) Place the toilet bolt under the spanner flange and drill the flange into the rest of the hardware.
Be sure to customize your repairs to your own needs - if you have more problems with your toilet flange, simply replace the entire unit and buy new toilet bolts. You can drill new holes to make sure that your screws fit into place, and voila! You should be able to re-attach your toilet to the flange and the toilet should be steady and leak-free. Now you can enjoy many more days of dry toilet usage.
Photo Credits: Omega Man
Originally posted 2009-08-04 06:00:32.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 22, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
Got yourself a leaky toilet?
Although most people don't know this, some toilets can leak water even when you're not doing anything. If you've inspected your toilet before in order to see if it was wasting any water, only to notice that no water was wasted, this article might have the solution for your water wasting problems: your toilet may be inefficient - and even leaking - while you sleep! If you want to make your toilet more efficient and stop wasting water
through either a leak or through simple inefficiency, this article is for you.
The first thing you can do to detect a leak is to place a drop of food coloring in your toilet bowl. If water is leaking anywhere, you'll instantly detect it because of the changed color, so be sure to drop in plenty. Check the toilet tank to see if anything has leaked from the bowl - if there has, you're looking at a very hard-to-detect toilet leak that you've only seen because you've taken the time to look it up.
In order to fix this leak, you'll have to check in a number of places. Check common areas like the flapper. If there are any problems, you may have to replace an individual part of your toilet. In order to do this, try and find the most appropriate part - the same part, if possible - and buy it online or at your local hardware store.
What about a toilet that doesn't leak, but has simply started to become inefficient? If ecology is a major issue in your toilet flushing needs, you can always replace the unit itself in order to have a consistently low flush. But if you simply want to upgrade your current toilet so that you're losing less water each time you flush, you can simply replace the flush valve! You don't always need to get a new toilet in order to flush less each time.
If you're tight on money, you can simply replace the flush valve in order to make your toilet more efficient and lest wasteful. You can also fix the toilet by replacing an individual part if there is a leak and one part is causing the error. Remember to keep mental pictures of all of the repairs and upgrades you make in case you ever have to treat another toilet that has become inefficient. Next time, you'll be ready, and you'll know exactly what to do!
Photo credits: pokpok313
Originally posted 2009-12-17 03:16:50.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 10, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
Bubblebath anyone?
For many people, the bathtub isn't just a way to get clean, it's an oasis away from the stress and worries that come with daily life. Whether you indulge in a luxurious bubble bath every night or just enjoy a good soak now and then, it's important to keep your bathtub clean, neat, and most importantly, functioning. So how can you fix some of the most common bathtub problems? I thought you'd never ask. Here are the answers to some common bathtub questions.
Fixing a Bathtub Faucet Clog
One of the most frequent problems you'll see with a bathtub is that the faucet gets clogged. This isn't like unclogging a toilet - you actually might have to do some plumbing. But before you conjure up images of tool belts and blue jeans, remember that plumbing isn't complicated every time.
In each bathtub faucet there is a screen that helps make sure that any loose debris doesn't get plopped into your bubble bath, allowing you to enjoy clean, pristine water. The problem with this screen is that it can sometimes collect too much debris and actually clog your water from coming through with a full flow.
If you can, remove the faucet head in order to get to the screen. Take out the screen and wash it with warm or hot water, and use that time to clean out the inside of the bathtub faucet. If you have further problems but don't want to explore before you do further damage, call a plumber.
Fixing a Drain Clog
The next and perhaps more unpleasant problem with bathtubs is that sometimes the drains clog. You don't want to bathe today in yesterday's bathwater, so it's important that you get this drain cleared as soon as possible.
Though you'll want to clean the part of the drain you can see first, this rarely solves the problem itself. You'll want to plunge the drain like you would plunge a toilet, trying to remove as much of the blockage as possible. Fill a little water in your tub before you plunge.
If that doesn't work, you'll have to use a plumbing snake to get the clog out. Be patient with a plumbing snake, as oftentimes you'll have to go very deep before you can reach a clog. Once you do, voila! Good as new.
These are two of the most common problems that occur with bathtubs because they get in the way of the flow of our daily lives. The bathtub drain, for example, also effects the way we take showers. Even if you're initially frustrated, stick with your plumbing efforts as long as you're not doing any damage. You'll probably learn something.
Photo Credits: Darrius Thompson
Originally posted 2009-08-18 03:03:45.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 23, 2010 in
Bathroom, Bathtub, Handyman, How to Fix
How to Save Space In Your Bathroom
Let's face it: when most people build houses, having a luxurious, gigantic bathroom or series of bathrooms isn't always the highest priority. For most people, building a house is about efficiency: and setting aside square footage simply to have more tiles near the toilet isn't the way to achieve that. Others might disagree and say that a good bathroom is worth the expense, but if you want to have an open bathroom and efficiency, you'll probably want to learn how to save space.
Bathrooms can be a bit clumsy and small - if you want to squeeze as much ambiance in them as you can, it's time to learn how to save space where you can. That's why this article will tell you exactly how to achieve that.
- Install over-the-door towel bars.
Making room for the towel bar (or even a towel cabinet, in some cases) can be a little difficult. If your walls are close together, you might want to look elsewhere to hang your towels: on the door itself. Hanging your towels on the door will potentially put a little distance between your towels and your shower, but that doesn't mean you can't simply pick up a towel on your towel bar and place it near the shower. These towel bars can be easy to mount; just make sure that your floors aren't slippery when you walk from door to shower!
- Think vertically.
When we think about space, we usually think in two-dimensional terms: the floor goes north, south, east, and west. But what about up and down? You can create more efficiency by looking at the different things you can stack in your bathroom. Do you have too many appliances scattered on your counter? Buy a mini-cabinet that stores them upward, creating more available countertop space. A combination bath/shower is also efficient, which is why many people love to have those installed in their bathrooms, as well.
- What can you remove?
Sometimes, efficiency isn't about adding more; it's about cutting the fat. If you've been putting up with a bathroom that has cabinets way out in space, you might simply consider removing them and replacing them with more efficient, space-saving cabinets. Look around your bathroom and ask yourself what else you can remove: towel bars, shelves, and unnecessary decorations come to mind.
Remember that saving space in your bathroom isn't always about physics; it's about what you can imagine. Try to keep your mind open, see new perspectives, and ask yourself what you would do to save space if someone forced you to do it. You might find that the new efficiency helps you in the long run.
Originally posted 2009-08-05 03:30:56.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 28, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix
Bathtub or toilet clogged? Grab a plunger!
Being able to plunge away a bathtub or toilet problem with a plunger is one of the basic home improvement skills everybody should know. It might not always be the most pleasant task, but it's simple, easy to learn, and it often gets the job done. The better you understand how to fix a clogged drain with a plunger, the less you'll need to work. Here's how to most effectively fix your drain using a plunger.
First, what kind of plunger do you have? Most of us imagine the stereotypical bell-shaped plunger, but you might have seen other options at the local hardware store. Use the "stereotypical" one; this bell-shaped plunger should be able to fold back to become flatter when you need to unclog either a sink or a bathtub. There are less-traditional plungers that aren't able to change their size for the type of drain you'll be unclogging; try to avoid these.
Next, it's important to understand that plungers work better if they're encased in water. If your toilet is clogged and there's hardly any water in the bowl, fill a container with water and use it to fill up the toilet bowl about halfway up. Once you have enough water over the drain to essentially cover the end of the plunger, push the plunger over the drain and form a seal around it. Now, pump the plunger over the drain keeping the seal tight, usually using much of your force to push in the plunger. You should notice that the clog appears to be loosening; however, you might not be able to tell until you flush the toilet again.
You can probably try another round of plunging if this doesn't work. If your plunging still seems fruitless, you'll have to move to the next step on the plumbing ladder: using a snake to break up the clog. If you use a snake and continue to have trouble with a clogged drain that seems totally blocked, it will probably be time to call the plumber.
Most of your clogs, however, should break up once you use a plunger. At the very least, you'll be able to loosen up a clog enough to get your toilet working again. When it comes to other clogged drains - such as the bathroom sink or the bathtub drain - you can fold back the plunger and use a similar method of plunging, making sure that there's some water present above the drain.
Photo Credits: julia fredenburg
Originally posted 2009-08-03 13:55:51.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 12, 2010 in
Bathroom, Bathtub, How to Fix, Plumber, toilet
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