Simple Hacks for the Non-Plumber
by Nicholas Chambers
If you're not really any good at home maintenance and DIY, you can always count on hiring a professional company to come over and sort any problems out for you. We can live without most home comforts for a while, but water is an essential part of everyday life. We need it for drinking, cooking, washing and going to the toilet. If you live in a block of flats and are lucky enough to have maintenance plumbing services in your building, then you don't need to worry. However, just in case you find yourself with clogged drains or a leaky tap, there are a couple of simple hacks you can use to ensure you can make that all-important cup of tea, or get an undisturbed good nights sleep.
Clogged Sink
Most people have experienced the nightmare of washing the dishes, only to find that the greasy water takes ages to drain away. If you're interested in green living then you can avoid using nasty chemicals that cost a fortune and can actually damage the plastic piping of your plumbing system. Firstly, grab some boiling water and pour it into the plug, you may find that the heat itself will dislodge any food debris. If this fails, pour in half a cup of baking soda and leave it to work for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a cup of vinegar and a cup of boiling water, and when ready pour the mixture down the sink. The baking soda and vinegar will react and begin to fizz, but don't be alarmed as the bubbling action will help to dislodge food. Finally, fill the kettle and pour another load of boiling water down there for good measure.
Leaky Tap Madness
If you're one of those people that can't sleep with any background noise, then a leaky tap will drive you wild. Often a tap leaks because the washer needs replacing and is damaged due to corrosion and wear and tear, or the shut off valve is broken. This is the part that prevents water from shooting out of the faucet (tap head). Replacing this is simple enough, but if you lack the confidence yourself there is a way of silencing the drip until your building's plumbing maintenance service arrives. Tie a piece of string around the head of the tap so that the length of string touches the bowl. This will guide any water droplets down quietly, allowing you to get back to sleep.
Share
About Me
If I didn't know better, I'd think my toddler started each day with a challenge to throw something new and different down the toilet. He has managed to put nearly anything can imagine down the toilet. I have gotten pretty good at figuring out what has gone missing down the loo and whether it's something I can fix or something that I need to call the plumber to help me fix it. This blog is for other mums of toddlers who need to get toys out of the toilet and get the toilet back to working condition as soon as possible!