Seven common plumbing headaches: Call a pro or just do it yourself?

A smelly drain, a blocked toilet, a dripping tap: some everyday problems can be solved with simple tricks. And sometimes it's better to call a plumber – a decision-making aid. Berlin (dpa) – Oh no, the toilet's clogged! Now what do you do – call a plumber or, to spare the expense, try to unclog it yourself? Sometimes there's no getting around calling on professional help, "especially if the work involves the water pipes – the drinking water, in other words," says Jens J. Wischmann, a sanitary industry specialist. Only a registered plumber will do. And for good reason: "If the drinking water becomes contaminated, liability issues arise that no insurance covers," he explains. Otherwise, give it a go yourself as best you can – "so long as you're prepared to break something and then have to pay a pro to fix it," says Sylvia Adamec, who works for a German academy promoting DIY skills. Not to worry though. Many household problems are easily fixable. Here are seven: 1. Smelly drain A foul odour emanating from a drain can put you in a foul mood. The solution is usually quite simple though: Let the water run for a while. "In most cases the cause of a smelly drain is that the P-trap hasn't been sufficiently rinsed out," Adamec says. A P-trap is a P-shaped pipe under a sink or similar plumbing fixture designed to trap a small amount of water after the fixture is used. The water acts as a seal blocking off sewer gases. If the drain gives off an unpleasant odour, the culprit may be liquids that were poured into it or food scraps. A drain may also be smelly when you return home after a holiday. "This is because the P-trap has dried out in the meantime," explains Adamec, adding that in this case too, it can help to simply let the water run for a while. 2. Water keeps flowing into toilet This problem is usually caused by the float valve in the toilet cistern, says Wischmann. In older, close-coupled toilets, where the cistern sits directly on top of the bowl, you can typically remove the lid and quickly spot what's causing the trouble. In more modern, back-to-wall toilets, however, the cistern is hidden within a wall or fitted furniture, in which case Wischmann recommends calling a plumber. 3. Jewellery dropped into drain Whoops! You were inattentive for just a second and your wedding ring or other small object of value fell into a drain. No reason to panic though, as it's fairly easy to take apart the P-trap underneath the drain. For this you'll need a suitable wrench or pair of pliers, tea towel and bucket. "First you should remove everything that's under the sink or washbasin," says Adamec. Then cut off the water, "and ideally close the angle valves to be sure there's no residual water flow while you're working." The bucket can catch water remaining in the P-trap. Now you can start. "P-traps often aren't touched for years and are furred up with limescale. So you've got to have at it with gusto," Adamec says. Don't be timid. Once you've unscrewed the slip nuts, you can easily fish the lost item out of the P-trap. A tip: Place a tea towel between the slip nuts and jaws of the wrench or pliers. This way you won't scratch the slip nuts, and you'll keep the wrench or pliers from slipping. Another tip: Adamec advises photographing the various steps you take in disassembling the P-trap before you clean it out. The photos will help you to reassemble it properly. It's also "a good idea," she says, "to replace the slip nuts' gaskets while you're at it." And Wischmann stresses the importance of putting everything back together carefully, as "forgotten or damaged gaskets can lead to water damage." 4. Clogged shower drain Depending on the shower model, it can be difficult to unblock a clogged drain. Wischmann nevertheless advises against using chemical pipe cleaners, warning they can damage the plumbing and are very harmful to the environment. Instead, you should use your hands. "I recommend removing hair and soap scum as well as you can with a handkerchief or an old toothbrush," he says. A thin wire can help as well. If you can't reach the source of the blockage, call a plumber. 5. Nightmare scenario: plugged up toilet A standard tool in many households, a plunger is the means of choice to unclog a toilet. "First remove as much water as possible so that the plunger sits firmly on the toilet bowl," says Adamec. Next, rapidly and repeatedly push down, then pull up the plunger, creating suction that can dislodge the clog. This may pull some of the clogged matter out of the toilet, "which can make a mess," Adamec says, "so you shouldn't be wearing your best clothes." She discourages using tools such as a toilet auger or drain snake, because "unless you're practiced in their use, you can do a lot of damage." To prevent a toilet from clogging, she recommends occasionally putting a dishwasher or denture cleaning tablet into the toilet and letting it work overnight. 6. Dripping tap Drip, drip, drip… A dripping tap can be maddening, and there are various possible causes. In many cases the cartridge – which regulates the flow of hot and cold water in a single-lever mixer tap – is furred with limescale or faulty. Disassembly is somewhat complicated but possible. You've got to unscrew the handle and extract the underlying cartridge. "This is a job for advanced do-it-yourselfers," notes Adamec. Instructional videos can be found on the internet. The question is whether the trouble will save you money though, because "depending on the model, the cartridge can be almost as expensive as a new tap." 7. Limescale build-up on shower head Weak shower pressure is often due to limescale buildup on the shower head. "It can help to remove the shower head and soak it in diluted vinegar," Wischmann says. "This isn't suitable for all materials, however, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations." Simply using a sponge can also help to descale a shower head. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn ada yyzz a3 bzl mod ob lue tsn coh

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