Plumbing projects can seem a bit daunting at first, but they really don’t have to be.
The Internet is a wonderful thing.
Come equipped with the brand and model of your fixture and, even better, some pictures.
They’ll point you in the right direction.
And if at any point you feel like you’re in over your head, call a plumber.
On kitchen sinks, you might also see valves for the ice maker on your fridge or your dishwasher.
Just turn them all off.
For toilets, the valves are on the wall or right on the pipe behind the toilet.
This is often the case with bathtubs and showers, where the plumbing is inside the wall.
You might find an access panel on the wall behind the fixtures, but more often you won’t.
Finding the main water supply shut-off can be tricky.
Where I live, that’s about the cost of hiring a plumber for an hour.
It opens a little wider and grips a little better.
The teeth on the wrench are designed to grip in the direction you turn it.
it’s possible for you to pick one up for around $10.
A basin wrench has an adjustable-angle head design that lets you get at them from below.
It should run you under $20.
It should cost you under $10.
Plus, having one means it’s possible for you to turn off your water quickly in an emergency.
A good one should cost under $20.
It also lasts a long time if you keep the container sealed.
It will run you under $5 for a roll that will last you for many projects.
Do read the installation instructions on the shower head you buy, though.
Some are designed not to require Teflon tape and can actually leak if you use it.
you might find those the same place you buy the shower heads.
Both types of leaks are because of problems in the faucet handle.
They work using one of three mechanisms:
Rotating ball valve.
In this key in, a ball with a slot rests on top of spring-loaded seals.
When the faucet is off, the ball is pressed tightly against the seals.
In this key in, a single, replaceable cartridge controls water flow.
The movement of the two discs opens or closes the line, controlling water flow.
The video above from Lowe’sshows how to fix leaks in all three types of single-handle faucets.
Neither option should be very expensive.
Two-handle faucets use three types of mechanisms.
The third key in is a compression (or reverse-compression) mechanism.
They do tend to wear out faster than other faucet types, but are also least expensive to repair.
The video above from Lowe’sshows how to fix leaks in all types of two-handle faucets.
The process is largely the same as in a single-handle faucet repair.
This video shows you how to do that.
The first step is figuring out what key in of faucet to buy.
Usually, there’s no deck (the plate at the bottom of the faucets).
A three-hole sink has one hole for the spout and two holes for faucet handles.
These are the most common key in in bathrooms.
Again, you may have a single-handle faucet but have a four-hole sink.
These are the most common types in kitchens.
The easiest way to tell which key in you have is to take a look under the sink.
You’ll be able to see the number of holes from the bottom.
We actually have our own guide on this, butthe above video from Lowe’sis a good basic guide too.
Do confirm to read the installation instructions that come with the faucet, though.
Sometimes, there are important variations.
However, you might always check outthis video from RONAincif you want to see the process.
Fix a Running Toilet
Toilets are pretty simple.
you could flush a toilet just by pouring a bucket of water into the bowl.
A flush valve (or flapper) controls the release of water from the tank into the bowl.
Then the tank needs to get refilled every so often.
The water in the tank is too high and it runs over the overflow pipe.
The toilet is continuously refilling itself because it thinks it’s low on water when it really isn’t.
There’s a problem with the flush valve and it needs to be replaced.
Check outthe video above from DIYer Jeff Pattersonto see how to fix all three problems.
You likely just need to make a quick adjustment to the assembly under the sink.
Pop-up drains have an arm that reaches down the drain and connects to a little rod.
Clear a Clogged Bathtub Drain
Clogged drains are no fun.
A lot more hair and other gunk goes down them than you think.
To unclog a bathtub drain the right way, you’ll need to take the drain plate off.
Check outthe video above from This Old Housefor instructions.
Title image remixed fromLauralova(Shutterstock).
