Save Money: Plumbing Fixes You Can Do Yourself!

Did you know that there are many plumbing fixes you can do yourself to save money? I am excited to share the following things you can do yourself to save money! Just the other day, I helped my husband fix our toilet which wouldn’t flush! It was a simple problem and I am glad that we were able to fix it ourselves without calling a plumber! 

Here are some things that you can do yourself:

Clear a Clogged Drain

If you haven’t had a clogged drain, you’re either lucky or better at making sure things that don’t belong down the drain don’t go! This is definitely something that you can fix yourself. You can first, try to stick a bent wire hanger down the drain to clean the blockage. Then, simply see if you were able to pull the blockage out. If that doesn’t clear it, you can try a plunger to try to get it out. If all else fails, try a clog remover like Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover.

Photo Credit: Roto-Rooter

You can purchase the Roto-Rooter products at your local home improvement store or department store. It is surely a lot cheaper to buy and do it yourself! This is a great product that I keep under my sink! 

Clean or Replace Your Faucet Aerator

Did you know that cleaning or replacing your faucet aerator will keep your water running smoothly and your faucet properly maintained? To do this, it is very simple. First you carefully unscrew the faucet extension that has your aerator in inside and then clean the screens inside with soap and water and a steel wool pad, or you can soak it in calcium, lime, and rust remover to restore it to an almost brand new state. How easy and cool is that?! Once that is done, you should run it through cool water to clear and residue from cleaning it. If you find that the aerator needs to be replaced, they’re not expensive. Instead of cleaning, simply replace it.  

How to Fix a Running Toilet

We just fixed this the other day! It is such a simple fix, here are the steps. First, remove the toilet tank lid and check the fill tube (small flexible tube that runs from the fill valve to the overflow tube). This tube squirts enough water down the overflow tube to refill the bowl after a flush. Make sure that the tube is in the overflow tube and doesn’t show any signs of wear. If this tube is broken or worn out, it is time to replace it. If everything is fine with the fill tube then will go to the second step to further investigate the problem.

You will then want to adjust the fill height. You can move the flotation ball up or down according to what your water levels are. Be sure you flush the toilet after each adjustment. If the fill valve shuts off repeatedly, it may be time to replace it. Which, again, is not too expensive of a repair. 

Our issue was with the chain and handle when we fixed it the other night. To fix this you just need to adjust the linkage on the chain or flush rod on the handle to allow the flapper to open fully and close properly with each flush. Ours came disconnected and we just had to reconnect. However, sometimes, a short or tangled chain won’t allow the flapper to fully close. If the flapper doesn’t close, the toilet will keep running. You must adjust the chain to where you have a little bit of slack in your chain.

If none of the above work, you may need to replace the flapper. To do this you’ll want to turn off the water at the valve, remove the flapper and go to your local hardware store. They’ll be able to get you the correct replacement!

Septic Maintenance

There are a few things that you can do to take care of your septic tank and prevent a costly septic repair! A monthly septic treatment can prevent a backup and keep your Septic running correctly. Roto-Rooter Septic Treatment can be used once a month to prevent your septic from backing up. Roto-Rooter’s natural enzyme formula uses two times more enzymes than the national leading brand to eliminate more paper, oils, fats, grease, starch, and proteins. It helps eliminate unpleasant odors and damages in leach fields.

Photo Credit: Roto-Rooter

Roto-Rooter Septic Treatment is the easiest preventative maintenance to complete. To use, simply measure out a monthly dose in the four monthly dose bottle. Pour the 8-ounce dose into the toilet and flush. You are done. I am so happy to find this easy way to care for my septic!! 

The next time you encounter a plumbing problem, I hope these tips will help you!! Do you have any plumbing fixes that you’ve done yourself?