Plumbing is absolutely the most vital part of anyone’s home, and it’s also the priciest spent when it gets broken. The reality is, plumbing repairs don’t have to cost a lot of money. Fixing busted plumbing is just a matter of ingenuity and speedy action sometimes. Read these cost-cutting ways you can take that are guaranteed to save you a considerable amount on plumbing repairs.

Fixing a blocked drain

Using baking soda and vinegar mixture

Baking soda is a kitchen staple that can do a miracle on smelly and blocked drains. It has slight alkaline components that can dissolve organic materials such as grease. Additionally, baking soda has a disinfectant aspect that can eliminate odour-causing bacteria.

Step 1 – Bring water to boil in a tea kettle first.

Step 2 – Put a few drops of dish soap into the drain and pour the boiling water. The dish soap will help melt greasy clogs away.

Step 3 – Pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of distilled vinegar. Don’t get petrified when you hear a fizzing sound; it is the sound of alkaline and acidic substance on the vinegar and soda neutralizing to unclog your drains.

Step 4 – Wait for 5 minutes or more to let the mixture work. While waiting, bring 2 cups of water to boil.

Step 5 – Flush the drain with boiling water. If it is draining, run the tap to flush the debris that has loosened. If it’s not draining, repeat the process at least twice.

Using baking soda and salt mixture

If the baking soda and vinegar mixture is not going to do the trick, use the salt and baking soda mixture. You can give it a crack before bedtime since the mixture should be allowed to sit in the drain overnight.

Step 1 – Pour a cup of baking soda into the drain and half a cup of salt.

Step 2 – Allow this mixture to sit in the drain overnight.

Step 3 – Pour 2 cups of boiling water. If the drain starts to drain, continue to flush with hot tap water until all the clogs have dissolved and ejected.

Tips to make your drains work longer

• Use a drain grate to filter debris, hair, and food particles.
• Never pour grease, oil and fats down the drain.
• When cooking greasy foods, wipe the kitchenware with a paper towel before washing to avoid grease build-ups in the drains.
• Pour dishwashing soap and boiling water regularly.
• An additional tip, don’t flush food particles that don’t break down into the drain. Dump them in the waste bin.

Fixing a clogged toilet

Using a plunger

You’ll see different kinds of plungers, accordion, flat or sink plunger and toilet flange, but all of these works very similarly. Toilet flat plungers have cups like a sink plunger and a soft rubber flap that vents from inside the cup. The flap fits well in the toilet drain opening, providing better suction to clear a clog and prevent yourself from getting a splash. The flap also provides flexibility to allow it to fit just about any drain.

Step 1 – Pour water in the toilet bowl until it is about half full. The water in the bowl is necessary to submerge the plunger completely; it will allow the plunger to get a good suction around the drain opening.

Step 2– Extend the flange at the bottom of the plunger cup and lower the plunger into the drain opening.

Step 3 – Position the cup over the drain opening. Make sure the flange is inside, and the plunger is getting a good seal around the hole.

Step 4 – Hold the handle straight and start plunging with a rapid thrust to provide sufficient pressure down the drain to loosen the clogs. Manage to keep a good seal throughout the motion. You would know if you successfully cleared the clog when you see the water starting to drain.

Step 5 – Remove the toilet tank lid to see the flapper. Flush the toilet and check if the clog has ejected. If the water is about to overflow, immediately push down the flapper. The flappers will refrain the water from rising to avoid the bowl from overflowing.

Using a coat hanger

Before you cry over a blocked toilet problem, reach for your coat hanger and do the steps below. A coat hanger is just another tool you can use that doesn’t cost you a penny, but will surprisingly work effectively.

Step 1 – To unclog your toilet this way you’re going to need to completely stretch a wire hanger until it is entirely straight leaving the hook at the end.

Step 2 – Wrap the hook end of the wire with a rag to prevent scratching your toilet.

Step 3 – Pour a dishwashing soap or drain cleaner in the toilet to lubricate and loosen the clog. Let it sit for a few minutes.

Step 4 – Slide the hanger into the drain until it comes in contact with the clog. Work your way by moving the wire hanger in a circular motion. Push the end with the rag down to see if you can thrust any clogs out of the way. Use just enough pressure to avoid getting the rag stuck in the drain and make the problem worse.

Tips to avoid clogging your toilet

• Be responsible in disposing of q-tips, feminine products, wet wipes, nappies, and other items that don’t break down in the waste bin.
• Limit the use of toilet paper. Toilet papers dissolve in water, but they don’t dissolve instantly.
• Avoid using beauty soaps. Most beauty soaps have fats and grease ingredients that can produce a buildup of scums.
• Keep the toilet bowl lid close all the time; this will prevent foreign items from falling into the drain.

 Fixing a broken sewer line through Sewer Relining

Most simple clogs are manageable with the right tools at home and a little bit of knowledge. But, keep in mind that when home remedies don’t work, you should immediately call a plumber. There’s sometimes more to these clogs than you can imagine. Stubborn clogs are usually caused by tree roots growing inside the sewer pipe or a broken sewer line that has collapsed due to sizable clogs or corrosion. Whilst minor clogs are something you can handle; you should not in any way try fixing sewer-related problems yourself. You could only be doing more harm than good in your plumbing.

If you want to avoid this problem, speak with the sewer pipe expert right away. Sewer experts like the pipe relining Sydney professionals can clear clogs without introducing more damage. They can prevent your plumbing system from further deterioration by carrying out a sewer pipe relining procedure in your damaged pipeline, which in turn saves you on cost on potentially expensive repairs.