Plumbing repairs is often a scary challenge only because it can get really messy if you do not know what you are doing. Here are a few tricks for everyday household problems that you can do before you call an emergency plumber.

1. Do it yourself general plumbing
repair
Plumbing repairs is often a scary challenge only because it can get really messy if you do not know what you are doing. Here are
a few tricks for everyday household problems that you can do before you call an emergency plumber.

2. Do it yourself general plumbing repair
 Plumbing repairs is often a scary challenge only because it can get really messy if you do not know what you are doing. Here
are a few tricks for everyday household problems that you can do before you call an emergency plumber.
 Water heater repair (hot water heater for water heating).
 Often, most hot water heaters (gas water heater) will not have hot water. Usually the problem is the pilot light went out.
Before calling any plumbing services, there is an easy fix. There are two controls you will need to manipulate. If you smell gas,
turn the top controller to the off position and call the gas company. If you don’t smell gas, turn the top controller to the pilot
position and the temperature to the pilot position. On the bottom of the hot water heater underneath the controllers, there
is a metal shield that covers the pilot tube and the burner tube going into the water heater. Remove the lid. The bigger tube
coming out of the gas valve is the tube feeding burner and the smaller tube is the pilot tube. On the end of the pilot tube is
where we will re-light the pilot. Use an all-purpose lighter with an extension of at least 3 – 5 inches so you can reach up into
the water heater. You will need to do two things at once. The top controller is also a button. Push down on that and light the
pilot inside the heater (the end of the smaller tube). Hold the button for at least 30 seconds after you light it and by then
after releasing the valve, the pilot should stay lit. Put the shield back on. Turn the control knob (on top, the one you were
pressing down) to the on position. Slowly turn the temperature control knob to the desired setting and the whole thing
should light. If pilot light goes out, repeat the above steps but slowly. If you have a rinnai water heater, tankless water heater,
electrical water heater (electric water heater) or solar water heater, the above fix will not work.

3. Do it yourself general plumbing repair
 Shower head installation
 Before calling a plumber service, here are some tools and techniques you'll need to replace a shower
head without crushing or scratching the fixtures. Remove the existing shower head. If it’s loose enough
by hand, then you will not need a pipe wrench. Most homeowners only have channel locks so go
ahead and use them. Remember lefty loosey, righty tighty. Don’t squeeze too much because you could
take the finish off the shower head if you’re going to use it again. Apply a towel around the fixtures to
help preserve the appliances. If you’re using a pipe wrench, you will need to adjust the height and use
the gap to turn. After we take it off, we want to clean off the residual tape and gook that could be on
the threading. Usually you can get most of it off with your hands and if you need to, you can use a wire
brush to get it cleaner. If you don’t have a wire brush, use a tooth brush. To add the new one on, you
will need pipe thread or teflon tape. Wrap two or three threads around the threading in a clockwise
direction. This will keep it from unwinding when you use the shower head. Screw the new shower head
on by hand until it is snug. Then finish tightening it with the pipe wrench or channel locks. Remember
to use a towel around the nut. Apply the same technique to a leaky faucet.

4. Do it yourself general plumbing repair
 Clogged drain or drain cleaning without using a drain snake
 Remove the excess hair with some needle-nose liars. Purchase baking soda and white vinegar if
you don’t already have it. For sinks, use a half cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar. Pour the
baking soda inside the drain and try not to leave any out of it (it needs to be down in the drain
and not in the sink bowl). Grab a towel which you will use after you pour the vinegar in. Once
you pour the vinegar in, a chemical reaction starts and it bubbles fiercely. You want to cover the
opening of the hole with the towel in order to keep the chemical reaction inside the pipes. Let it
sit for 5 - 10 minutes until the reaction has dissipated. Pour an entire pot of boiling water down
the drain afterwards. By the following day, you should be able to notice a difference. For
bathtubs, double the effort because the pipes could be larger. Repeat if necessary at least 1 more
time before calling a 24 hr plumbing company or a handyman.

5. Do it yourself general plumbing repair
 Toilet repair
 Many toilet problems are easy to diagnose and fix yourself. From leak detection, running toilet or even
clogged toilets. Toilets that were built before 1994 uses 3.5 gallons per flush and newer ones use only
1.6 gallons. There are two main parts to every toilet. A fill valve sits in the tank and fills it with water. It
also sends water to the bowl through the refill tube. There are two types of float devices that shut off
the water. A ball and a cup. Be sure to check which one you have if you need to buy parts. The second
main part is the flush which is made up of the flush valve, flapper and the tank lever. The flapper is
connected to the tank lever and fits on the flush valve. When you flush, the flapper lifts up to release
water to the bowl and remove the contents. Now let’s check for leaks. First, flush the toilet and dry the
exterior surface at the base of the toilet with a towel to make it easier to spot the leak. Pour a teaspoon
of red food coloring in the tank. Flush and wait for about an hour. Wipe a dry paper towel all around
the base. If there is a leak at the base, the red coloring will appear on the paper towel. If it is around
the base, you will probably need to replace the wax ring or flange. If the leak isn’t at the base, you can
still use the same food coloring trick but this time, don’t flush the toilet. If the food coloring has made
its way into the bowl, this means there is a leak between the flapper and the flush valve drain seat.

6. Do it yourself general plumbing repair
 Are you looking for general plumbing repair in Bend, OR? Or a plumbing contractor in
Redmond? 24 hr plumber or emergency plumbing? You can always count on Central Oregon
Handyman for residential plumbing or emergency plumbing.
 http://www.centraloregonhandyman.com/diy-general-plumbing-repair/

7. Do it yourself general plumbing repair