If you’ve ever had to turn on a faucet or fix a clogged showerhead, you know how frustrating it can be. Imagine doing the same thing in the middle of the night when you can’t get to a light switch or light bulb. It’s enough to make anyone throw their hands up in despair and walk away from the problem forever. Plumbing problems are inevitable, but with a little know-how, they’ll be easy to handle instead of impossible. Read on for 10 plumbing hacks that will make your life easier and your pipes less prone to leaks and stoppages.
Use a hair tie to stop stubborn pipes
If your pipes’ stubborn nature has you chasing water with a roller towel, try a hair tie instead. It’s a cheap and easy solution that will keep your pipes flowing. All you have to do is loop the hair tie around the spigot and then place the other end under the faucet. Once the water is running through the hair tie, pull it out and place it back under the spigot again. This will cause the tie to form a seal, preventing debris and water buildup that can clog your pipes.
Don’t leave a cap full of water in the shower
There’s no need to leave your showerhead full of water while you head out for the day or clean something. It’s not only wasteful, but it’ll make it harder to unclog the drain if there’s too much pressure in the pipes. If you have a kink or block in your pipes, you’ll have a difficult time reducing the pressure and unclogging the drain once it’s full of water. A full showerhead takes longer to clear than a sink, faucet, or bathtub, so it’s no surprise that many pipes end up blocked.
Stop your sink from dripping with a T-shirt
If your sink is leaking from the bottom of the cabinet, you might have a kink or block in the pipe. To stop the drip, simply lay a T-shirt over the leaky spot. It’ll help to stop the drips, and it won’t cost you a cent. There’s no need to remove the shirt and re-attach it every time you want to clean the sink or run the dishwasher. Just dump the shirt in the wash and clean as normal.
Keep your toilet tank dry with a towel roll
If your toilet is constantly filling with water, it’s probably because there’s an obstruction in the pipes under your floor. To keep the tank from flooding the floor, place a towel roll under it. A toilet tank expands and contracts as it fills with water, and if it’s constantly filling with water, it’s most likely snaking into the wall. Once the water level lowers, the flow will stop and you can remove the obstruction.
Polish your faucet with a cotton cloth
Faucet stains and oxidation build up quickly on metal faucets, especially if they’re in a high-traffic area. That’s because water splashes against them more often than metal surfaces in a sink or a countertop. To keep those handles looking and performing like new, simply polish them with a cotton cloth. It’s an easy, effective way to maintain your faucets.
Add air to your tire valve by putting it on an Air Bike
If you have a flat tire and you’ve determined that it’s caused by a hole in the tire, you’ll need to inflate it to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. (It should be between 30 and 50 psi for a normal car tire and between 35 and 65 psi for a truck or SUV.) You’ll also need to replace the tire. But what if you don’t have a compressor, air pump, or any other high-tech appliance to do the job? Have you got a spare tire you don’t use? Pop the valve of a bicycle tire and inflate your tire enough so that you can ride home. It’s a cheap and effective way to get you back on the road without buying any new tools.
Use an extension cord as an extra handtie up above the ceiling
If you’ve got an appliance that needs a long extension cord, like a ceiling fan or a space heater, try using an extra length of household cord instead. It’s cheap and easy to get; you just need to stretch it as far as the appliance will require. It’s also a safer alternative since there’s no chance of you tripping over it like there is with an extension cord.
Use rubber gloves to unblock drains
If there’s a clog in your drain, you can’t dig it out or run a snake through it. Instead, you can use rubber gloves to break up any build-up in the drain. You can use them to unblock your kitchen sink, bathtub, or even your toilet. Rubber gloves are easy to get and store, so you won’t have to worry about running low on them. They’re also cheap, so you’ll save money in the long run.
Wrap plastic bags around neglected fixtures to keep out debris and improve flow
If you’ve got a dirty air conditioner or heating unit, you’ve probably noticed that it takes a long time to get the unit clean. That’s because all the dust and dirt builds up quickly. To get rid of it, simply use a plastic grocery bag and seal it around the unit to keep it dust-free. You can also use it to store the dust collector so that you don’t have to store it in a closet or vacuum the floor every time you’re done using the unit.
Dilute bleach for tough clogs
If you’ve got a blockage in your pipes or a clog in your sink that’s too stubborn to budge with a plunger or a snake, you can use household bleach to break down the blockage. Simply mix together one part bleach and nine parts water and pour it down the drain. The bleach will eat away at the blockage and allow water to flow through the drain once again. This hack works best if you have a clog in your toilet or your sink, since bleach is among the nastiest chemicals for pipes (blinding anyone who goes down the pipes with fierce fumes).
Shake what you didn’t unscrew last time. Just kidding. Sort of…
If your plumber has recommended that you have your pipes replaced because they’re too old and too prone to leaking, you can get by with a few hacks. Be sure to wear rubber gloves when you’re working on the pipes, and don’t stop until you’ve completely cleared all the clogs. That way, you’ll avoid having to break up with a different plumber.
Sort of…
If your pipes are too old or too prone to leaks, you can save some money by doing some simple DIY plumbing repairs. For example, you can fix your faucet by taking off the handle and replacing the washer. When it comes to your pipes, you can do a lot of things with a wrench.
