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Turning on your shower should be as easy as the flip of a switch. But when your shower diverter breaks, taking a shower is not so easy—water continues to pour from your tub’s faucet after you’ve switched the diverter. Luckily, repairing a shower diverter is quick and fairly simple. What Is a Shower Diverter, Anyway? A shower diverter is a mechanism that reroutes the water from your bathtub faucet to your showerhead. Many shower diverters are controlled by a pin knob that you pull, but there are many types. Maybe yours is turned on with a button or with a third faucet handle between the bathtub’s hot and cold knobs. How to Determine that Your Shower Diverter Is Broken This one’s easy. If, after you trigger your shower diverter, water continues to leak out of the bathtub spout rather than the showerhead, the shower diverter is not working properly. This could mean that the inner rubber stopper isn’t creating a good seal to fully block and redirect the flow of water, or it could be another problem. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot and address the issue. How to Repair a Shower Diverter Once you’ve determined that your shower diverter is broken, don’t delay in repairing it. Though it might be an easy task to put off, a broken shower diverter wastes water and creates a poor shower experience. Repairing a shower diverter is a home improvement project that you can complete in just one day. Here’s how to repair a shower diverter in seven simple steps: Turn off the water supply to your shower. Seal off your drain with tape so that small screws or other important parts are not lost down the drainpipe. Tighten the screws behind the faceplate of the diverter valve. If you attempt this fix but the water continues to pour or leak slowly from the bathtub spout after the shower diverter has been engaged, move on to the next step. Disassemble the shower diverter. If your diverter has a rotating valve, unscrew the nut at the stem of the diverter and remove the entire valve. If it has a gate-type valve, unscrew the threaded tub spout. Replace the diverter. To be sure you purchase the correct replacement, bring your old diverter with you to the store. Install the new diverter, making sure that the parts do not cross-thread each other. Use a wrench to …

Save yourself from any toilet trauma with these tips. Let’s say you’re a person who’s known for their devotion to extreme cleanliness—especially in the bathroom. You know your way around cleaning an air duct; you’re an expert on how to get bathroom grout pristine; you even mop your bathroom floors with castile soap! Now imagine anything more embarrassing than clogging a toilet and having no plunger. Think about it—there you are in a restaurant bathroom, using a friend’s commode, or even sitting in your very own rustic bathroom, taking care of business, when the toilet suddenly clogs, and there’s nary a plunger in sight. Panic sets in and you begin to wonder: Will the toilet overflow? Will it stay clogged forever? How long can I hide in here without arousing suspicion? It’s not a good feeling, people. Before you consider jumping out of a second-story bathroom window or start exercising your potty mouth, know that you actually can flush your way out of this toilet travesty, sans plunger. (However, if you’re using a public restroom, you might just need to cut your losses.) Most at-home toilets can easily be fixed in a jiffy with a bit of elbow grease and a few ordinary items. Sometimes you can even wait it out and hope for the best—some toilet backups actually fix themselves, thanks to a little time and a lot of gravity. But when time is of the essence, here’s how to unclog a toilet without a plunger. WHAT DO I NEED TO UNCLOG A TOILET WITHOUT A PLUNGER? Depending on what you have on hand, you can determine your best course of action—because you can actually go about unclogging your toilet a few different ways. We’ll break down each method further, but make sure you have dish soap, a wire hanger, baking soda and vinegar, or even bath bombs to get the job done. WHAT SHOULD I NOT DO? Avoid flushing repeatedly, especially if the water’s already rising. In this instance, so you don’t have a clogged toilet and a flooded bathroom floor, remove the tank lid and push down on the flapper, which is the rubber contraption toward the bottom. Next, cut off the toilet’s water supply by turning the valve, usually located behind the toilet, and wait for it to reside before you tackle the mess inside. HOW CAN I DE-CLOG MY TOILET WITHOUT A PLUNGER? 1. HOT WATER If there’s not much liquid left in the toilet bowl to …

Fruit flies can become a real menace, once they settle in your home. One day, you may spot a couple, hovering over the fruit bowl on your kitchen counter and next, you see them buzzing everywhere in their hundreds. Even in your bathroom. Why you get fruit flies in the bathroom and how to get rid of them are questions that have been always bugging folks. No surprise, here. After all, no one keeps fruit or food, for that matter, in their washroom, right? So, if you’re one of those people who is struggling with a fruit fly problem in the bathroom and the rest of your home, this post is for you and everyone else, who is wondering: How fruit flies end up in the bathroom If there are any effective ways to get rid of fruit flies in the bathroom What non-chemical fruit flies killing methods are best applied in the bathroom How to prevent fruit flies from returning or invading your home in the first place Table of Contents: How do fruit flies end up in your bathroom and can you get rid of them? How to kill fruit flies in drains How to get rid of fruit flies with traps How to prevent fruit flies from coming back How do fruit flies end up in your bathroom and can you get rid of them? Well, let’s picture this, first. You go one morning in your beautifully designed bathroom with trendy patterned tiles, shiny chrome fittings, an inviting bathtub and fluffy clean towels… And you’re “hit” in the face by a swarm of wafting fruit flies. What? How did they appear there overnight? There’s no real secret to this. Fruit flies love moisture and warmth. They may generally lay their eggs under the skin of overripe fruit but if needs be, the insects will depose them in any dark and moist spot, covered in organic matter, like the drains in your house. And bathroom drains are no exception as to becoming the perfect breeding ground for fruit flies. This includes your shower, bath and sink drains, which may be full of gunk, mixed with “biological material” like dead skin cells and hairs. And the sudden shock of having a cloud of fruit flies one day in your bathroom also has a simple explanation. An adult fly can lay about 100 eggs a day, which hatch within 72 hours. The …

The skilled trades are hot. These professionals are increasingly in demand, and there are no signs of this letting up anytime soon. Entering into the trades is an excellent way to start earning income more quickly, reducing or even eliminating student debt, and embarking on a rewarding career with unlimited potential for growth and advancement. Plumbers are highly sought after, and this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. What are the plumbing skills needed to succeed in this trade? Plumber Skills List Now let’s lay this to rest. Plumbers do much more than wield a plunger or run Drano through clogged pipes. This field is highly technical and a great deal of training and apprenticeship is necessary. Among the plumbing skills needed:   Technical Knowledge. Plumbing systems can be highly complex, and plumbers need to be able to apply their training and learning to the situations they run into in the field. From knowing the ins and outs of different systems to being able to install, troubleshoot, and repair components is essential. Problem-Solving. Plumbers work in a variety of settings, and not everything always goes to plan on a construction site. They may encounter surprises hidden behind walls or underground. Regardless, they need to be able to stop, assess the situation, and develop a viable plan to move forward in a way that ensures the client/customer achieves their goals. Math. Again, this is a technical field. Plumbers have to complete often complex calculations on the fly to ensure that components and systems work properly together. Continual Learning. The plumbing industry is changing rapidly, and new technology is continually introduced. Good plumbers stay on top of the latest advancements in their field so they can apply the best solutions to the job at hand. Proficiency with Tools. From snakes and wrenches to power threaders and blowtorches, plumbers work with a variety of tools. Knowing how to use them, and when, is critical. Communication. Good plumbers are good communicators. Because this is a complex, technical field, they need to be able to explain their work and plans to contractors, other tradespeople, and customers who do not necessarily speak their language. Customer Service. You are the face of your company when you visit a jobsite. Your ability to answer questions, listen to concerns, and provide timely and professional service is of the utmost importance. Honesty and Integrity. In this business, your earnings depend on your reputation. People are trusting you with a vital part of their …

There are many things that we humans take for granted and plumbing is right at the top of the list. We grew up thinking it’s a basic necessity. However, we didn’t realize there was a time where people would throw their waste on the streets, or just about anywhere. We don’t realize that there was a time when bathing was considered dangerous and people would go on years without bathing. We don’t really pay much attention to the system of plumbing in Katy, TX, that is running underneath and around our homes. The closest we come to thinking about it is when we face water problems, or when the water heater is malfunctioning, or when the drain refuses to work. Truth is, the system of plumbing in Katy, TX, and all around the world is doing wonders for us. Our lives would have been a lot more difficult and demanding if not for the ease provided to us by the plumbing systems. Allow us to enlighten you how plumbing in Katy, TX is taking care of a lot more than just our overflowing drains and busted water lines. Plumbing Allows us to Control Water With the invention of plumbing system, the human race was able to control and direct water for their use. That’s not all, plumbing allowed us to make sure that the clean and dirty water stays separated for the sake of our health, hygiene and wellbeing. It is only because of the intricate wand well-maintained system of plumbing in Katy, TX, we get clean water conveniently and comfortably in our homes. Plumbing Saves Us from Epidemic Diseases Water is the source of various infectious diseases and history proves that. Many epidemics in the past have been caused because of water. The Black Death that took away almost half of the European population with it was a result of poor unsanitary conditions. That’s where plumbing comes in. By harnessing water, plumbing allows the government of every country to keep the drinking water sanitary by adding disinfectants in it. Matter of fact, even if an epidemic begins to spread, one of the control measures is taken by adding the antidotes in the water. As we sit in our homes, oblivious to the dangers lurking outside, the system of plumbing in Katy, TX is keeping us safe. Plumbing Prevents Water Wastage There are many ways in which plumbing prevents water wastage. One way it does so is through hot …

If you’re wondering how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet, you’ll be glad to know it’s a pretty easy job. It only takes a couple hours of your time and it will bring big savings to your wallet. The bad news? The longer you wait to repair it, the more money you’re letting go down the drain. The first step is taking a look at your bathtub faucet and determining what type you have. Most bathtub faucets have the little knob at the top that you pull to turn to the shower position. That’s called the compression valve. If you have a compression-valve type faucet, here’s how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet quickly and easily. TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO FIX A LEAKY BATHTUB FAUCET   Replacement bathtub faucet stem Replacement bathtub faucet handle Washers, screws, and bolts Adjustable wrench and socket wrench Screwdriver with multiple bits Cleaning cloth or sponge HOW TO FIX A LEAKY BATHTUB FAUCET: Begin by turning off the water. If you can reach the water valve for the bathroom, turn off the water there. If you can’t, then turn off the water at the main water supply — which is usually located in your basement. Be sure to open the faucet in the bathtub and let all the water run out before you get started. Take off the faucet handle and the decorative mount. Loosen up the screws on the center faucet cap and after loosening, remove the screws. Take faucet out of the wall. Replace the faucet handle and then test your new bathtub faucet. Is the leak gone? If the answer is yes, you’re done! Otherwise, if the leak still persists, then you’ll have to move next to the faucet stem. HOW TO FIX THE FAUCET STEM: The rubber washer at the top of your faucet stem? It’s called the seat washer and it’s designed to stop any water flow. Over time, it can get hard and ineffective. If it looks hardened or worn out, you should replace the washer — or replace the entire faucet stem. Pro tip: You can remove the faucet stem and take it to your local hardware store when you’re buying the replacement to make sure you’re purchasing the right one. You’ll want to be sure to clear away any old corrosion, dried caulk, or rust before you put the new faucet stem in. The faucet stem is what’s …

In the US, plumbing leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water annually. That’s equivalent to 40 million swimming pools. Most of these leaks don’t even need the attention of a professional. Armed with a wrench and a few plumbing basics, you can fix some of the most persistent leak problems. Fixing leaks yourself is obviously economical, but you also need to know when to call in the plumbers. In this article, we’ll dissect the complex mesh of pipes to its most basic. You’ll learn when to go DIY, when to call a plumber, and how to differentiate the two. Let’s dive right in. How Does Plumbing Work: Plumbing Basics Home plumbing is pretty straightforward. A casual gaze at the interwoven mesh of pipes and valves may seem overwhelming but bear with me. Understanding a few plumbing basics will see you navigate the mesh like a pro. House plumbing consists of two systems: Water supply system Drain-water vent system (DWV) House Plumbing Basics: Water Supply System Water supply is a system of pipes that brings fresh water into the home. The system is highly-dependent of pressure. Water in these pipes come from one of two sources: City water Wells City water enters your house from a humongous pipe ‘the main pipe’ that’s usually parallel to your street. If your connection to the main has a problem, call a professional. Damage to the main can result in civil lawsuits and hefty fines. People who don’t have access to city water usually get their fresh water supply from wells. Water must then be pumped into the home at high pressures. Reduced pressure keeps water from reaching the furthest and highest parts of your house. Running showers and faucets are usually the first victims of low pressure. Factors affecting pressure range from leaks to blockages. If the leak is caused by a loose connection, it’s easily handled in-house. If, on the other hand, the leak necessitates re-piping, you best call for a professional plumber. You can read more plumbing problems you should leave to a plumber, here. The main pipe is connected to your water meter. There’s a shutoff valve before or after your meter. The valve cuts off the water supply system making it useful when doing repairs. Let’s look at the common problems facing the water supply system. Basic Plumbing Tips: Maintaining the Water Supply System Correctly installed piping is leak-proof. The system, however, disintegrates with …