Bathroom DIY: Problems and Solutions

376
Bathroom DIY faucet and sink

Last Updated on February 20, 2017

Photo Credit

The bathroom is possibly the worst room in your house for things to go wrong. It’s guaranteed to be a place that all of us need several times a day, and you’ll want to deal with any problems as soon as they happen. While some issues will require a qualified professional to come in and solve the problem, there are quite a few common ones which you can attempt to do yourself.

Here are a few common bathroom DIY tasks for the bathroom for you to try your hand at.

Clogged Drain

When most people have a clog in their drain, they head straight for a drain clearing product. While these may be useful in the short term, they may not provide the long term solution you are looking for. Instead, try purchasing a specific drain clearing tool which is very useful, and very cheap to buy. Slip the tool down the drain, twist it and pull out the clog. This is much more effective than chemical solutions, as well as being more environmentally safe. As well as this, it’s also reusable.

Dirty Caulking

Old caulking around your bathtub, toilet and sinks not only looks unattractive, it will no longer do the job that it is supposed to. It’s a very easy task to replace it. Firstly, apply a touch of caulk remover and leave it for several minutes. The package should tell you exactly how long you need to leave it for. Using a putty knife, scrape it away carefully. Next, thinly add the new caulk and smooth this over with your finger. This should give it a look that appears clean and finished.

Dripping Faucet
Bathroom DIY faucet running water

Photo Credit

A faucet that drips may be a sign that you need some pipe leak repair. The most obvious problems are caused by a worn washer or O-ring. Shut off the old and new water one at a time to find out which one is leaking. You can then shut the water off and disassemble the faulty handle. You will then need to replace the washer and O-ring. If the faucet is particularly old, you may need to replace it with a new model that matches the holes left by the previous one.

Low Water Pressure

There are several main causes as to why your taps have low water pressure. The simplest solution is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve. Find the valve nearby to where the water line enters the house. It is bell-shaped if you are struggling to find it. Start by loosening up the locknut. Then, turn the bolt on the valve to affect the water pressure. Clockwise is to increase the pressure, whereas anticlockwise it to decrease it. Only do this a half turn at a time and repeat as necessary.

Remember, before attempting any of these tasks, be brutally honest about your DIY skill levels. Don’t risk doing anything that will end up causing more problems for yourself. If it seems like too big a job, call in the experts.