5 Ingenious DIY Plumbing Hacks for Moms
>> Mar 17, 2019
Introduction
As Moms, we always have lists upon lists upon lists of things
to do. Not particularly glamorous things
either! Most of our lists comprise of
cleaning children, cleaning the house, cleaning the children’s clothes, cleaning
the dishes etc. before starting the cycle all over again.
So, we all know that water is life but for us, it is also
sanity! The moment that the water stops
flowing, or starts flowing in the wrong places, everything turns upside down
and we panic.
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But many of the plumbing problems that inspire that panic are
actually relatively simple to fix without spending a huge amount on spare parts
or calling a plumber. You just need a
few basic tools (every Mom should have a Mom Tool Set!), some vinegar and
baking soda and a few household items and you will be flowing freely in the
right places again.
Today, we will be looking at the 5 most ingenious plumbing
hacks but, before you start playing with your plumbing, make sure you know
where the mains valve is just in case you need to stop a flood! Also, make sure there is easy access to your
valves at all times. You don’t want to
be moving furniture and boxes as the water is pouring from a broken pipe.
1. Clogged Drains and Toilets
Clogged drains are one of the most common reasons for plumber
call-outs. After all, no-one wants
smelly, and often contaminated, water rising up through their sinks, baths and
toilets.
The first thing to think about with toilets is what you are
flushing down them. It might be a good
idea to put a latch on the outside toilet door until your little ones are potty
trained and old enough to understand that socks, Barbie™ doll accessories and
empty candy wrappers should not be flushed!
Also, make sure there is a good quality sealed garbage bin for
non-toilet paper waste such as paper towels.
Toilet paper is designed to dissolve in water; it is the total opposite
for paper kitchen towels.
There are numerous toilet and drain de-blocking chemicals
available on the market. These drain
cleaners work efficiently and quickly but need to be handled with care and
always away from children. As they have
to be left in the sink or toilet for a specific period of time, make sure
children cannot access that room whilst they are working.
You can also use an old fashioned plunger and apply some
muscle to remove remaining blockages.
If this doesn’t work, consider renting or buying a “Plumber’s
Snake”, a tool which helps you thread a tube down your pipes and remove
blockages but you will only need this if the blockage has become really solid.
2. Clogged Showers or Taps
Whether you have hard or soft water, debris, lime-scale and
rust can build up in the aerator and holes of your taps and shower heads.
To clean them effectively, simply disassemble and soak in
white vinegar for 6 hours. Use a brush
and a piece of wire to remove stuck-on dirt and poke through the holes to clear
them completely then reassemble.
It’s that simple!
3. My Hot Water is Too Hot or Too Cold
Most of us ignore our water-heaters/boilers until something
goes wrong. But you can save time and
money by making sure it is set at the right temperature. There is a thermostat on the side of most
heaters and you should set this at 115˚ F which is ideal showering
temperature. Hotter than that is
actually dangerous and itwill also lower your electric bill.
If there is still a problem, you might need a new thermostat
and the, I’m sorry to say, you will need to call a plumber.
4. Fixing a Leaky Tap
A leaky tap means there is a problem with the washer. If allowed to continue, this might lead to a
major flood so be sure you can change a simple washer.
Firstly, turn off the water mains. Failure to do so is disastrous!
The washer in a tap is called the “O-Ring”. To access it, you need to use pliers or a
wrench but use a cloth to protect any shiny surfaces. O-Rings are in different locations depending
on the tap type but you will usually find it just under the screw mechanism as
your unscrew it.
(O-Rings are different sizes so you might want to leave your
mains water valve disconnected and take the faulty ring to your local hardware
store to match sizes.)
Then simply replace the ring and screw back the tap.
5. Prevention is Always Best
- A great alternative for chemicals is a
combination of vinegar and baking soda.
Simply place 1 part baking soda in the sink-hole or toilet and then add
2 parts white vinegar. Wait a couple of
hours and then either flush or run hot water through. Use the baking soda and
vinegar trick in your sinks and toilets on a monthly basis to prevent rather
than cure blockages. Put it in your
calendar.
- Clean your washing machine, dishwasher and
ice machine pipes every six months. Make
that part of your spring and fall cleaning.
- Check your water heater during your spring
and fall cleaning. Look for leaks and
rust and check any heatproof cladding is intact.
- As winter approaches, make sure you
disconnect hoses from your outside garden pipes. (This will prevent water in these pipes and
taps freezing and then cracking the pipes in the thaw.)
Summary
Learn not be afraid of plumbing and to know your pipes and
valves. If you take care of them, you
will have fewer problems and can check one thing off your lists.
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