The document discusses common DIY plumbing projects, such as fixing leaky faucets, toilets, pipes, and clogged drains, emphasizing the challenges and excitement of tackling these tasks. It also highlights the importance of using the right materials and tools, while cautioning against common mistakes like mismatched materials and not knowing when to call a professional plumber. Overall, it serves as a guide for DIY enthusiasts to successfully manage typical plumbing issues in their homes.

1. Common DIY
Plumbing Projects

2. • There are some people that have one hand on the phone the
second a plumbing problem starts to take shape and others
who never met a DIY project they didn’t like. For the latter
group, repairing various plumbing problems around the house
is both challenging and exciting. They sometimes get
themselves into difficulty or end up making a situation worse
than it was, but that’s all part of the DIY lifestyle.
• Here are some common DIY plumbing projects from various
areas of the house.

3. Leaky Faucets
• A leaky faucet is one of the more common plumbing issues
you’re likely to experience. It’s also a perfect type of project
for the DIY crowd, because it’s usually pretty straightforward
and uncomplicated. Leaky faucets can happen in the kitchen,
bathroom, laundry room, or anywhere else you might have a
faucet in the house.
• Usually, a faucet starts leaking the washers and seals that
keep the water inside get older and start to wear out. Make
sure you get the right accessories for your brand of faucet,
and turn off the water supply before you start removing the
faucets.

4. Toilets
• Just about everyone has probably had an issue or two
with a toilet. Some of the most common toilet DIY
fixes are clogs, a running toilet or a leaking toilet.
• Most clogs can be loosened up with just a basic
plunger or a basic closet auger that you can find at
most stores that sell plumbing supplies. In the
majority of cases, paper and waste are clogging the
toilet, so expert help isn’t required.

5. Toilet (con’t)
• If your toilet is continually running, the problem is likely inside
the tank. The wire that connects the toilet flap to the handle
might need adjustment to make the running stop.
Sometimes, jiggling the handle a little will help, but if it
doesn’t stop you’ll want to adjust the wire.
• A leaking toilet may require some professional help if it’s
serious enough, but a skilled DIY’er can usually remedy the
situation. You may have to replace the wax seal beneath the
toilet, or the toilet itself, but it is possible. Just remember to
shut off the water and flush your toilet before you remove the
bolts and get started.

6. Leaky Pipes
• Just as your faucets or toilet can leak, so too can your pipes. If
it’s a slow leak, you might not even notice until you get a
water bill. Basically, fixing a leaky pipe largely depends on
how serious the leak is, where it is located and what kind of
pipe is leaking.
• In some cases, simply patching up the leak with materials you
can find at the hardware store will suffice, while other times
entire sections of pipe might have to be replaced.

7. Clogged Drains
• In a busy household, clogged drains happen in the kitchen and
in the bathroom. Things like food particles, hair, soap and
other personal care products can all find their way into the
drain and clog things up.
• Sometimes it’s enough to just run hot water down the drain
for several minutes to break up the clog. If it’s a little more
serious, you can use a plunger and if it’s really stubborn you
might want to turn off the water and remove the trap
underneath the sink. The clog might be in there, or if it isn’t
you can try an auger. Avoid using any harsh chemicals in your
household drains.

8. Renovations
• One of the things that the DIY crowd really loves is doing
renovations. And quite often, along with a new room
renovation comes a new toilet, bathtub, shower and/or sink.
• This kind of plumbing project is a little more advanced and
requires tapping into the current plumbing system in the
home. If this kind of project is your thing, try to keep your
plumbing additions in line with the layout of your house, so
that the whole plumbing system works together.

9. Common Mistakes
• As skilled as some DIY plumbers may be, mistakes will be made
from time to time. Here is a list of some of the more common
ones:
• Mismatched Materials – repairing certain parts of the plumbing
system with mismatched materials is a sure way to find problems
down the road. Using washers that don’t fit exactly or combining
two different types of pipe is definitely not the way to go.
• Improper Tools – using the proper wrenches, saws and other
tools is the best way to see that your entire project is done right.
If you don’t have the right tools for the job, you’re asking for
loose fittings and lots of water.

10. Common Mistakes (con’t)
• Not Finishing a Project – starting a project with all the
enthusiasm in the world and then getting sloppy in your work
as that enthusiasm wanes is a common DIY plumbing mistake.
Many people end up trying various time-saving tricks, which
only make things worse in the end.
• Not Knowing When to Say ‘When’ - there are just times when
enough is enough and it’s time to call a plumber.
Unfortunately, some people can’t seem to recognize that
time. Try and remain realistic and call for help if you need it.