Not every plumbing problem will require a midnight call to your Northern Beaches plumber, but you should remedy all plumbing issues as soon as possible. Doing this will prevent minor issues from growing into big expensive ones or save you money on your utility bill.

Here are some of the most common plumbing emergencies and how you might fix them yourself.

1. Running Taps

A tap running out of control may seem like an emergency, but the first thing to do is to locate your mains supply and shut off your water. Modern basins and sinks also have a local shutoff, so you might not need to shut off water to the rest of the house.

Running taps are usually a problem with the tap washer. Fortunately, this is an easy fix for someone handy with an adjustable spanner, but you will need a tap washer repair kit from your local hardware.

Turn off the water supply from outside and turn on the tap to drain the remaining water out of the pipes.

Remove the tap knobs or handles and use the spanner to loosen and remove the stem. Remove the old washer and O-rings from the stem, clean everything and replace the O-ring with a new one.

Wind the spindle full into the body of the spindle as if the tap was fully on. Place the new washer in the body cavity or at the end of the spindle and tighten it up with the spanner. Replace the tap knobs or handles and turn on your main water supply.

2. Blocked Drains – Full and Partial

Blocked drains in your Northern Beaches Home can indicate something more sinister lurking further along in the pipes, but most are created from a build-up of grease and debris. The best treatment for a blocked drain is not letting it get like that in the first place. Don’t discard your fat and oil down the sink after cooking. Soak it up with a paper towel and throw it in the bin. Pour boiling water down to melt any grease or oil build-up and send it on its way.

Every home should have a cheap plunger you can use to work debris loose so it can be washed away. If you can’t clear your blocked drains, Northern Beaches plumbers will be more than happy to examine your pipes.

3. Clogged Toilets

Toilets that won’t flush are another alarming situation you may face. However, even here, there are still some things you can try yourself. A toilet plunger may free up debris locked in the pipes.

The plunger you use in your kitchen sink won’t be suitable because it can’t create a good enough seal in a toilet bowl. Make sure you use the right plunger for the job. You can also use an auger (snake pipe cleaner) to break up any blockages so they can move down the pipe.

Most plumbing issues are not an emergency, and in a lot of cases, you may not even need to call your Northern Beaches plumber. However, if you cannot fix the problem yourself or it is an emergency that could cause severe damage, don’t hesitate to give Eze Flow Plumbing a call, day or night.