Archive for the ‘Plumber’ Category
First figure out what type of faucet you're working with.
One of the most common household repairs is the faucet-fix; it wouldn't be such a common repair if these devices worked all of the time! The bad news is you don't always feel like you have time to fix a faucet right away. That's why this article will help explain how to fix a faucet in a jiffy, even if you have a specific type of faucet that you aren't sure how to manage.
First, let's explore the faucet types.
The Ball Faucet: The ball faucet is your classic single-handle faucet on top of a large round base, allowing for a certain mix of hot and cold water with just one nozzle. Many homes today have ball faucets, but you might also want to be aware if your single-handle faucet is actually a disk faucet, a recent innovation.
The Disk Faucet: This faucet is also single-handled. The Disk faucet essentially works by operating with disks instead of a ball. These will also have a round base, so you won't always be able to discern a disk faucet from a ball faucet simply by looking at it. Be sure to find out what kind of faucet you're using before you try and fix it.
The Compression Faucet: Double-handled, the compression faucet works with two valves in each handle allowing for the basic blocking and allowing of flows.
The Cartridge Faucet: These can be a little tricky to discern as they can be single or double-handled. These operate using cartridges, and you might be able to recognize these by the motion they use: a double-handled cartridge faucet should require the faucet to be moved up and down for flow and twisting the knobs for temperature.
So how do you fix these individual faucets in a jiffy? You'll need to know the basics. The first rule with any of these faucets is to turn off the water supply leading to the faucet - either find a valve under the sink or turn off your house's water supply temporarily.
After you've turned off the water, turn the faucet on to let the rest of the remaining water flow out. To prevent dropping anything into the drain, try putting a towel over it. Begin to take apart the faucet and look for the problem - if you need to replace parts, bring that part with you to the hardware store so you can search for duplicates.
Find a guide or blueprint for how your faucet should look on the inside, and try to identify the problem. Online guides that show you how to fix each individual faucet can also help.
Photo Credits: Joe Shlabotnik
Originally posted 2009-09-10 03:41:27.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on March 17, 2010 in
How to Fix, Plumber, Sink, faucet
Got a Leaky Faucet?
A leaky faucet, over time, can feel like the scourge of your bathroom: even if the rest of your bathroom is in tip-top shape and even the ambiance is enviable, a leaky faucet changes how your guests might perceive your home. At least, in your mind it does. If you're the type of home do-it-yourself-er who enjoys not only a quick challenge, but making sure that your home is running as flawlessly as possible, it's time to learn how to fix that leaky faucet. In this article, we'll take a look at some simple steps for achieving exactly that.
Step #1: Survey the leaky faucet.
If you don't know anything about faucets, you'll probably want to learn about two basic faucet types: essentially, check to see how your faucet uses dials. Are there two handles for controlling faucet flow and temperature, or is there simply one mechanism that handles both? The latter is known as a "washerless" faucet, while the former is known as "compression" faucet. If you plan on fixing your faucet, you'll first have to know what you're fixing.
If you can, make sure you also look at the company name on the faucet and check their inventory online to see if you can find the specific type. This won't always be necessary, but it can potentially lead to some important hints and strategies you'll want to use in order to fix the leak.
Step #2: Plan your strategy.
Now that you know the faucet type and its make, you'll be ready to go in and fix things. But first you'll need to plan your strategy, and prepare the right tools to help you accomplish this task that much more quickly. You'll also want to consider any aesthetic considerations - can you cover your tools with tape if necessary n order to avoid scratching? Make sure that you'll have all of your tools in the bathroom handy so that you don't have to go searching through the house later. This can enhance frustration and make the process that much more difficult. So make sure you know both what to expect and have the tools nearby to help you handle the job.
Step #3: Remove the handle and make the necessary repairs.
Inside, your faucet will probably require some replacements. Taking a look at the problem, you can get a better understanding of the type of replacements you'll probably need to make. Common problems can include "o" rings, rubber gaskets, and twine.
Photo Credits: DBR9007
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 6, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Plumber
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
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 3, 2009 in
Bathroom, Bathtub, How to Fix, Plumber, toilet
How to Unclog a Clogged Toilet in Three Steps
Ugh - there goes the toilet again. Today's toilets are more eco-friendly because they use less water per flush, but this also means they pack less of a wallop than the less-efficient toilets of yesteryear. Which means you'd better be ready to unclog a toilet, but don't worry: it's not as hard as you thought. Here are three steps for doing just that.
- Step 1. First, make a few preparations.
If you don't know what's clogging the toilet, try to ask anyone else who lives with you if they might know. This, of course, will depend on your individual situation and whether or not you already know what's causing the clog. Second, as you're preparing to unclog the toilet, try to spread a few towels around the area - it's likely that you'll splash some toilet water around. Make sure you wash these towels after you're done.
- Step 2. Use a plunger.
This is the basic tool you'll use when working with toilets, and for most clogs, this might actually be your only step. If you've never used a plunger before, don't fret; it's actually pretty simple.
First, you'll want to make sure that there's enough water in your toilet bowl to cover the head of the plunger. Make sure that you don't actually flush the clogged toilet again - instead, you'll want to simply add some water from an external source like a faucet. This will help make the plunging go more smoothly and make sure you get adequate pressure to unclog your clog.
- Step 3. If the plunger fails, try a toilet auger.
This isn't your first option; you'll want to use the auger for the especially stubborn clogs that the plunger simply isn't able to handle.
A toilet auger is much like a plumber's snake, but it is often treated with a plastic coating to help protect the inner workings of your toilet. Using the auger, you can actually "reach in" and manually dislodge a clog by either grabbing it and pulling it back up, or by pushing it through down to your drainage line.
Working with a clogged toilet is one of the easiest things to fix around the home - as long as you know what you're doing. Keep a couple of these tools (a plunger and an auger) handy around the house - you just need one of each. This way you can avoid unnecessary trips to the hardware store or calls to the plumber.
Photo Credits: apartment therapy
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 30, 2009 in
How to Fix, Plumber, toilet
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