DIY
Coastal Plumbing’s DIY page with tips and information on what you can do at home to save money on your plumbing needs.
Welcome to Coastal Plumbings DIY (do it yourself page)! Coastal Plumbing has been a respected professional plumbing service for over 30 years in the Southwest Florida area. We are a trusted, family owned and operated company that has an insured, licensed, technician that is available to take care of any of your residential or commercial plumbing needs. We offer 24 hour residential and commercial emergency services to take care of all of your plumbing needs.
All of our products come with a manufactures warranty and we warranty all of our workmanship. We have convenient hours to serve you from 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday with appointments available. Coastal Plumbing is insured to work on all brands and types of plumbing hardware and can install any brand you may have even if it is purchased elsewhere or we do not carry it.
- FAUCETS
- TOILETS
- WATER HEATERS
- GARBAGE DISPOSALS
- WASHING MACHINE HOSES
FAUCET LEAKS
DIY List:
Squeaks – If it is difficult to operate or makes noise when turning the water valve on or off you may have a leak in the future.
Puddles or Rust – Check for discoloration or areas of moisture that accumulate and do not evaporate over time.
Water Bill – Watch your water bill for large fluctuations in price. It can give you a good indication of an issue that can not be heard or seen.
Drips – Rooms that are not normally occupied should be the first rooms to check for leaks. Because we do not typically use those faucets we may not hear or see them leaking until it becomes a major problem.
Smells and Mildew: In some cases you may actually smell a leak before you hear or see it. Try running water down the drain. If the smell comes back contact Coastal Plumbing.
Turn Off Water – Water valves are usually located under the sink and turning them off can prevent any further damage from occurring.
Repair Kit – A faucet repair kit can be a common simple fix to do at home that can be found at your local hardware supply store. The kit usually consists of new o-rings and washers.
TOILET LEAKS
DIY List:
Noises – Sounds of groaning or bubbling can come from your pipes beneath or behind the toilet. These sounds can be a sign of a leak.
Water Around Base – This can be a sign of a leak coming from the wax ring located under the toilet where it meats the floor or wall.
Floor Damage – This can be a sign of a slow leak that is being soaked up by the floor.
Smells – If you smell mildew or sewer gas in the bathroom this can be a sign of a leak.
Turn Off Water – Shutting off the water supply to the toilet can prevent anymore damage from happing if a leak is detected. The valve is usually located behind the toilet.
Parts – Many parts can be found at your local hardware store. Be sure to take any broken or worn out parts with you to the store to make sure you replace them with the correct parts.
Handle Breaks – This part is what lifts the flapper allowing the water to evacuate the tank. This part can fail in many places such as the arm, the chain, or even the handle its self can break.
Toilet Overflow – In order to quickly stop this simply find the water shut off valve located behind the toilet and shut the water supply off.
Clogs – Using your plunger can help loosen clogs. By placing the plunger directly over the opening of the drain and pushing and pulling a few times it can break up whatever is causing the issue.
Loose Toilet – A toilet that is not fully flush or attached to the floor can be dangerous to sit on and also damage the wax ring latter causing leaks. Tightening the bolts located at the bottom of the toilet can quickly fix this issue. Be sure not to tighten the bolts to much because this may crack the toilet.
WATER HEATER CHECKS
DIY List:
Sounds – Listen for any unusual sounds or dripping.
Surrounding Floor – Make sure to check the exterior of the tank and floor it is located on. If you see and raised flooring, discoloring, or water acumulation this may be the cause of a leak.
Drain Sediment – It is important to expel any sediment that could settle at the bottom of the water heater tank. In order to do this first shut off the water supply to the tank, turn the thermostat down to its lowest setting, hook up a garden hose to the drain valve, and open the valve. Make sure the end of the hose is placed next to a drain or outside the house. This process should only take a few minutes or until you see the water runs clear.
Thermostat – Make sure the thermostat is set to the manufacturers recommended setting.
Temperature Pressure Relief Valve – This valve helps keep the water from ever boiling in the water heater. To test it put a bucket below the extension pipe and test it by lifting the valve lever. Water should flow when the valve is open and stop when it is closed. If this does not happen you should replace the valve.
Shut Off Valve – It is good to know the location of the valve and give it a periodic twist to keep it from seizing over time. You may also need it to stop the flow of water in the case of a leak.
http://university.hotwater.com/maintenance/
http://university.hotwater.com/no-hot-water/
GARBAGE DISPOSAL CHECK
DIY List:
Clogs – clogged garbage disposals, slow draining water and leaks, to unusual noises and odors
Tripped Circuit – check circuit breaker
Safety Switch – some garbage disposal units come with an overload protector feature. This will disable the disposer to protect it from potential damage if the unit has been run for to long, there is a jam, or there is something wrong with it. To reset the disposal first make sure it is in the off position, locate the red reset button on the base of the unit. Gently press the button in if it has dropped down about 1/4 inch. If it does not stay in wait 10 minutes and try again. If the button still does not stay in contact Coastal Plumbing for a technician to come service it.
Self Service Wrench – Some garbage disposal units come with a Jam-Buster self service wrench is a silver crank shaped four inch tool that will safely allow you to turn the disposal motor helping to clear any clogs that may occur.
http://www.disposer.com/service/trouble/includes/moss/jammed.html
http://www.disposer.com/service/trouble/includes/moss/reset.html
WASHING MACHINES
DIY List:
Smells – Check for mildew or musty odors in the laundry room. This can be a sure sign of a water leak issue.
Standing Water – Inspect the surrounding area of the washing machine checking for any pools of water.
Hoses – It is recommended to change the hot and cold water hoses every 3 – 5 years. Inspect them to make sure there is no moisture on the exterior, they are tight, there is no sign of rust, cracks, or bulging areas. Old failing hoses are the number one cause of washing machine leaks.
Leaks – There may be a water shut off valve located behind the washing machine. Shutting this off will stop any additional damage from occurring from a leaking hose or overflow.