A fixture refers to anything in a home that has water flowing to it. A toilet, a sink, a hot water tank, a dishwasher, a bathtub; these are all examples of plumbing fixtures. Plumbers know the importance of keeping our fixtures operating like they should. Blockages, clogs, back flow issues and drainage are all things that a toilet repair at fixing on a daily basis. Water not moving around as it should poses problems in all areas of a home. Having an issue with water leaving your home can be disastrous as water finds its own level and will back up and possibly spill out, causing a major mess and potentially a lot of damage. Water not going into your home properly causes problems within the pipes and then in turn within the appliances and fixtures that use that water to operate.
Turn off the water to the water line repair heater or if the valve is not working turn off the water to the house. If the valve is not working it will need to be replaced. In a future article we will discuss how to replace your valve.
Plumbers are at a high risk for health problems. This is because they are regularly exposed to many different illnesses and infections. They can contract psittacosis and histoplasmosis from the regular contact they have with animal droppings. Plumbers also see regular exposure to harmful chemicals and elements like lead and the other chemicals that can be found in the plumbing materials they work with on a regular basis.
Depending on your repair job you might need a bucket that will fit below the sink trap, as well as some rags and newspaper. Masking tape is useful for labeling and for wrapping around the heads of the wrench to protect your chrome tap handles. Rubber gloves are recommended, particularly when working with the toilet, but there are greases and glues that you may not want on your hands.
Remove the cap of the faucet using slip-joint pliers. Tape the teeth of the pliers to prevent damage of the surface. Remove the faucet cam washer and water line repair the rotating ball.
I bought a new kitchen sink from a brand name building supply company and hired a plumber to install it. After he had left and I filled up my new sink to wash my first load of dishes in it, I noticed the water level had dropped. You wouldn't want to feel my shock and imagine the angry words that came out of my mouth! I couldn't believe that I had spent $300.00 on a brand new sink that couldn't hold water!
Once you've located the water shut off, turn it off. Now, you can turn your attention to trying to contain the water damage caused by any leaking. Get towels, fans, blankets, or anything else to try and sop up water that is sitting on carpet or wood floors. Linoleum floors usually don't undergo much damage from having water sitting on them, unless there are cracks in the linoleum (often invisible) where the water can seep in. When your Queens plumber arrives, you will be one step ahead by following these instructions.