Tackling a plumbing project in your home can seem like a daunting task at first. With a little knowledge and the proper tools, you can well be on your way to repairing leaky faucets and keeping that plumbers bill at bay. You first want to ensure you have the proper tools. Most generally, you will need a pipe wrench or a pair of locking pliers.

One of the most common plumbing repairs needed around the house is a leaking faucet. Whether it is the kitchen, bath or an outside faucet, the rules are basically the same. Start by tightening the packing nut with a pipe wrench. Hold a pair of pliers on the handle of the faucet to ensure no movement while turning the nut behind the handle. This tightening will almost always fix the leak. If water drips continue, a bad washer is most likely to blame. Repairing this is simple and easy.

Turn off the water supply to the faucet. If none is available, turn off the main water supply to the house. Open a water line by turning on a faucet, other than the one you will be repairing. Unscrew the packing nut and slide the handle off. Inside this nut is a rubber washer. Remove this with a flat blade screwdriver by carefully prying it out. Replace the washer with one exactly the same size and shape. Reattach the handle by screwing the packing nut back into place and tightening with the pipe wrench. Turn the water supply back on. The leak should be gone.

By tackling basic home repairs like this, you will save hundreds on plumbing bills and keep that green in your wallet. You will notice a drop in your monthly water usage as well. This is good for the pocket and the planet.

Tags: Business, Plumber, Plumbing, Tap, Water supply

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 12:56 pm and is filed under DIY, Plumbing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.