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Being a homeowner has its problems, but even living in a rental home can have its issues if you have a landlord that couldn't care less. Small problems in a bathroom can pop up at any time, usually when you least expect it. But there are some minor problems that you can fix yourself without too much hassle and for very little cost.
We look at a few minor bathroom issues that can be fixed without expensive tools and without too much of your valuable time.
1. Fix a clogged-up showerhead
Hard water and minerals in the water supply can easily lead to clogged filters and a blocked showerhead. Even though your water pressure is usually fine, as soon as the small holes in the showerhead start building up with scale and mineral deposits, the slower the water coming out. There is a very easy way to solve this problem and you only need a few items you may already have in the home.
You will need:
- White spirit vinegar
- Plastic bag
- Rubber band
- Scouring pad
- Toothpicks
Here’s how:
- Fill the plastic bag to about halfway with white spirit vinegar. The acid in vinegar breaks down the mineral deposits.
- Place the bag of vinegar over the showerhead, making sure to completely cover the holes in the showerhead.
- Use a rubber band to hold the bag in place and leave overnight.
- In the morning, remove the bag of vinegar and scrub with a scouring pad, cleaning out the holes with a toothpick.
2. Stop dripping or leaking taps
Taps that leak or drip waste a lot of water, especially if left unattended to for a long time. Fixing a dripping or leaking tap immediately will not only prevent added expenses on your monthly water bill it is also good for preserving this natural resource.
Fixing a leaky or dripping tap shouldn't take more than a few minutes - even if you've never done this before and you won't have to worry about wasting water anymore. Furthermore, a packet of tap washers will only cost you around R20.00 and you will have spares left over for the next time you need to fix a tap.
You will need:
- Plumber's wrench
- Screwdriver
- Tap washer
Here’s how:
- Turn off the water supply, either in the bathroom itself or at the main stopcock.
- Remove the decorative top of the tap. For older taps, you might have to use a plumber's wrench to remove the top section.
- Use the wrench to loosen the main spindle inside the tap.
- Remove the worn washer and replace with a new one.
- Repeat the process in reverse to put the tap back together again.
If your taps are very old and replacing the tap washer does not solve the problem, it might be time to think about replacing your taps entirely.
3. Prevent blocked drains
If a sink is taking a long to drain, it could be that a blockage is starting to build up. This happens more frequently in a kitchen sink, where fat and food particles stick together to form a stubborn blockage.
Prevent this from happening by regularly cleaning the drain with a mixture of white spirit vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. This helps reduce build-up in pipes and will reduce the possibility of a serious blockage.
4. Fix the slow flow on taps
If your taps have sluggish water flow it could be that the filter is blocked. Most modern taps have a steel mesh filter screwed on the end. To clean it, simply unscrew it so you can remove any debris blocking the filter.
Stubborn grit can be removed with an old toothbrush. If there is hard water or mineral build-up on the filter, soak it for 30 minutes in white spirit vinegar and then rinse it clean.
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