HOUSTON -- How’d you like to save 100 bucks?
KHOU 11 News’ Shern-Min Chow found three common plumbing problems that you can fix yourself for less than $5, rather than calling out a licensed plumber.
The Montrose U-Plumb-It is a plumber’s paradise. Ken Ward has owned it for 15 years and makes this promise to rookies tackling everyday plumbing problems: "If you can handle a wrench and a screwdriver, you use a little common sense, in most instances, you can do it."
Take that annoying leaky faucet. First turn off the water, then unscrew the handle -- either from the top or from behind the fixture --remove it, then unscrew the cartridge inside. The rubber gasket is usually what needs replacing. Ward says that costs, "Maybe $1, $2."
If it’s the whole cartridge, then it’s five to 20 bucks. Compare that to, say, $100 for a plumber to make a house call.
Has your garbage disposal ever been jammed? Look underneath it.
"Make sure you’re well away from the switch," Ward warned.
Pointing to the underside of the disposal, Ward said there should be a socket there, where you can put an Allen wrench.
You rotate the wrench -- which comes with the disposal -- back and forth. That action rotates the blades inside back and forth and should dislodge the bone or spoon or whatever is caught between the blades. Hit the little reset and flip the disposal switch. Your out-of-pocket cost is zero dollars, versus the plumber.
Everyone has had a leaky toilet.
"First thing you would check is the flapper," Ward said.
That’s the rubber stopper that plugs the drain in the tank. Lift it and drain the tank. Then unhook the flapper from the prongs and the chain from the lever and replace. That part is $3 to $4.
Ward recommends taking the old part to the home-improvement or plumbing store to be sure you get the right replacement and any advice you might need.
