Repairing things yourself is a great way to save money but it will also cost some of your time. Time which you would probably like to spend doing something else. With the cost of even a simple repair running into the three figure range nowadays, it can be a real disaster for your pocket book when something breaks or just simply gives out.
DIY Repair Tip - #1 - Plumbing Repair Tip
Here’s a simple plumbing repair tip that will help you if you need to fix a leaky faucet or drain pipe. Having the right tool for the job is an important part of any DIY repair. One of the handiest tools for a lot of plumbing repairs involving drain pipes is a good set of “channel lock” type pliers. These make it easy to tighten or undo drainpipes when you have a leak that needs fixing. When replacing a gasket or seal on a drain pipe, just coat the threads and gaskets with a little bowl wax (this is the ring of wax that toilets are mounted on…they are quite cheap and a single one will do a lot of repairs), this also makes it easier to undo later if need be and stops any annoying drips.
You can also use the bowl wax trick when hooking up drain pipes for an RV or trailer when temporarily at a location if you are using rigid pipe. I did this on my little 15 footer when I was working in the oil field (a lot of landowners required rigid connections for the trailers when workers were living on site). No glue needed, no wasted pipe and a rubber mallet undid the connections easily.
Got a DIY repair tip for your fellow preppers?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
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7 comments:
...good tip about the wax ring RW,gonna use that one fer sure...also,buy a good basin wrench,deep sinks are all the rage and well worth the time saved trying to reach all the goodies to undue a simple faucet...
Great tip on the wax. I want to redo my sewer line and run a hard pipe and I will be sure and remember that!
To: Ken
Those wax rings work wonders and are so cheap that I keep a couple on hand...might even need one for a leaky toilet base.LOL
Finding alternate uses for items increases their versatility and helps stretch the dollar.
I read where you said the cold weather was keeping you busy working on the pipes...hope things turn around for you soon.
Personally, if I don't have at least one thing break each day, I start to wonder what's wrong!
Thanks my friend!
RW
Thanks my friend!
To: Bustedknuckles
I've saved a bunch of money using the bowl wax to seal drain pipes...since there is no pressure on the lines it works great. I had problems with my cans of PVC cement going bad (drying out) and was always having to go buy another can. That and having to splice lines with new pipe and fittings just cost way too much.
I still recommend cleaning your PVC pipe and using glue for a more permanent installation.
I was always moving from one location to the next in the oilfield every few months that I just got tired of having to re-do everything all the time and found this was a decent solution.
Thanks Bustedknuckles!
RW
Damn, I saw a lot of this today in a surplus type store but the wifey was so busy buying the groceries they had on sell I couldn't remember this article. Ah well, going back Tues. so I'll rectify that one mistake. Good tip.
To: tjbbpgobIII
Gives new meaning to a "wax" job! LOL
Just remember where you saw that bargain!
Thanks.
RW
A wax job, allright I'll have to see if I can still get one. That place where I saw them is a spectacular little store with automotive, some groceries cleaning supplies, all kinds of machine oil, just about everything you could ask for. Dirt cheap and heaven for people like us who prep for a living and don't have a lot of money.
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