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 fast 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.
After you have the stems out you should be able to find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've already come this far. You can get replacement washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes you may want to replace the whole stem, especially if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take the stem with you to the store and see if you can match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have replacement stems for many popular brands. If your valve has a center diverter valve to switch the waterfrom the tub spout to the shower head the same process applies. Many times it is easier to replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really depends on the design of the stem.
Working on the gas lines is also a complex job that only a licensed plumber can handle because it is very dangerous. Small leaks can't always be detected by odor alone, but a licensed professional has the proper equipment that's needed to ensure that you don't have any leaks in the line.
A broken water supply line can cause water to spurt from the line connecting the toilet to the main water valve. The first step to repair this leak is to shut off the water line repair supply valve. This will stop the flow of water to the toilet. Next, flush the toilet to remove the water from the bowl and hold down the handle until it is completely empty.
The way a toilet plunger works is by filling up with water and then pushing that water through the stopped up drain. When unclogging a clogged toilet, the idea is to plunge up and down a couple of times so the plunger fills with water and then jam the open end, sometimes called a force cone, into the waste outlet in the plugged toilet and start plunging. You may have to pump the plunger up and down several times to clear the blockage.
Find out if the plumber works on a 24 hour basis and, if so, what are the extra charges involved. More important than the costs however are the person's trustworthiness and reputation. After all, he or she will be in your home and around your possessions. You should feel comfortable with their presence and confident that they are honest.