When faced with a strangely behaving sink, toilet or shower head, don’t be too eager to call a plumber. Most plumbing issues can easily be tackled at home, even if you are not a pro. Here are a few easy as cake plumbing tips that every homeowner should know.

Improve Shower Pressure

Nobody wants to spend an eternity in the shower due to a low water pressure, especially when you are running late in the morning. Not only is low water pressure a nuisance, it also increases your water bills. Before you rush to call a professional, why not check the showerhead first, since dirt and grime can clog up the showerhead and reduce pressure. To resolve the issue, fill a small plastic bag with a vinegar solution and tie it around the showerhead so that the head of the shower is completely immersed in the liquid. Leave it in this position overnight and the vinegar will dissolve all the grease and grime clogging up your showerhead. Chances are your water pressure will return to normal by morning.

Get Rid of Toilet Clogs

Got a toilet that won’t flush or overflows? You have got a clogged toilet on your hands! The best way to deal with a clogged toilet is to use a simple plunger that you have at home. If you don’t have a plunger at home, your first line of action should be to turn off the water at the valve at the back of the toilet to stem the flow of water. Then pour boiling water plus liquid soap into the toilet bowl so that it can melt away the clog.

If the soapy solution fails to unclog your toilet, why not make your own DIY toiler cleaner. You need two simple ingredients to make this amazing cleaner:  baking soda and vinegar next. Mix together 1/3 cup of each, and pour the mixture down the drain. Wait for an hour before pouring boiling water into the toilet bowl. This trick should be able to clear up whatever is clogging the toilet.

Repair Leaky Faucets

Got a leaky tap that won’t stop dripping? Not only is the constant drip-drip sound really annoying, a singly leaky faucet can waste hundreds gallons of water if not treated immediately. For an immediate remedy, you can die a washcloth around the faucet with a rubber band. For a more permanent solution, you need to tackle the issue at the core. Shut off the water supply, dissemble the faucet body, and replace the washer with a new one. If you have never changed a faucet before, watch a YouTube video on how to change a faucet before diving in.

Prevent Water Damage

We believe that every homeowner should know how to turn off the main water to their home. If you witness a pipe bursting suddenly, at least you will be able to stop the flow of water and prevent water damage before help arrives. Be sure to have all the tools that you need to turn off the water supply if need be.

Quiet loud sinks

If your sink makes a lot of noise, have you considered stuffing expanding foam into the space between two stainless steel sink basins? The foam absorbs most sounds and helps to reduce vibrations. While you can do this for an existing sink by dissembling it, it is easier to do so before installation.

Unjamming the Garbage Disposal

Every homeowner must have experienced a jammed garbage disposal at least once, however, the problem is one of the easiest to resolve. First things first, try pressing the reset button located underneath the unit. If that doesn’t solve the issue, wear your DIY hat. Shut down your disposal unit, and shove a ¼ inch Allen wrench into the center slot on its underside. Quickly move the wrench in and out of the slot to dislodge whatever is stuck into the teeth of the grinding unit. Even easier, if you don’t have an Allen wrench, you can even spray the handle of a broom with WD-40 spray and use it to crank the grinder unit. Remember to turn the power on after you are done, restore the water supply and test to see if you have resolved the issue.

Water Leaking from both Bathtub Faucet and Shower Head

A shower diverter valve helps to divert the flow of water from the bathtub faucet to the shower head when you turn the handle. However, if the water continues to come out of the bath faucet while the shower diverter valve is engaged or vice versa, it indicates a malfunctioning shower diverter valve. Fortunately, you can easily replace a diverter valve.