Like every other plumbing component in the home, the bathtub valves can easily become worn out over time. This often results in extensive repairs when they are not properly addressed in a timely fashion. A leaky faucet can cause significant damage behind the walls, and an inoperable drain can be the results of an underlying problem that is significantly greater than clogging hair.
Typically, the issues with the plugged up drain in the bathtub, or valves that will not work, are the most common problems involving the bathtub plumbing. Typically, minor repairs can be made by a do-it-yourself homeowner using just basic plumbing skills, and a few simple tools. Many of the components needed to fix the bathtub plumbing can be purchased at the local home improvement store or any store that specializes in plumbing supplies. More advanced plumbing problems might require significant technical repairs performed by a professional plumber.
Faucet Repair
Before beginning any type of bathroom plumbing repair, it is essential to make sure that the water supply has been turned off. Typically, the water supply to the bathtub is located behind the faucet wall of the bathtub. If that is inaccessible, it will require turning off the water supply to the entire house (either in the basement, or located just outside) to ensure minimal leaking during the process.
Next, the faucet handle will need to be removed, which simply requires a small Phillips head screwdriver. Remove the handles by sliding them off the faucet stems. Next unscrew the faucet’s stem collars and remove the escutcheon plates that are typically made of chrome and used to hide the openings for the handles, the showerhead and the spout.
Next, unscrew the faucet valve stems using an adjustable wrench. When the valve stem has been removed, you will need to unscrew the old washer and replace it with the new packing provided from the home improvement store or hardware store. Once the new packing has been installed, just reverse the process and thread the stem back into the valve. Put the escutcheon’s back on, followed by the stem collars and finally the handles. Be sure and turn the water on slowly to ensure that the valve has been tightened completely. If the faucet is still leaking, it likely requires professional repair.
Unclogging a Drain
By removing the screen or plug at the bottom of the bathtub, it is possible to see visible debris and hair that is clogging up the drain. The process of removing these components can be messy and better performed by wearing rubber gloves. If that does not unclog the drain, feed a bathtub drain snake through the opening of the drain hole and turn it to grab whatever is blocked farther down the line. Try to avoid using harsh chemicals as they can cause significant damage to the drainpipe.
Making plumbing bathtub repairs is a simple process, when the problem is minimal. However, when the faucet will not stop leaking, or the tub simply will not drain, consider hiring a professional plumber to tackle this home improvement job.
Home Improvement: Preparing To Paint A Room
Freshening up a room with a new paint job can be done in a weekend and can really make a room come alive. It is not hard to do, but it is a good idea to get organized ahead of time so that the job will go smoothly without a lot of mess and the finished product will turn out great.
Get organized from the start.
It is really much easier to get organized right from the get go. Gather everything you’ll need and place it all in a tool station in the middle of the area to be painted. This will include paint, brushes, rollers, paint trays, rags, drop cloths, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic wrap, painter’s tape, masking tape, plastic bags, stirring sticks, spackling for patches or holes in walls, spackling tools, and a paint can opener.
Plan two days – one for prep and one for painting
If you plan two days for the work, you won’t be rushed trying to do everything in one. Use the first day to move as much of the furniture and other stuff that is in the room to be painted out of the room. What cannot be moved out should then be moved into the center of the room and completely covered with a sturdy drop cloth. Tape the edges of the drop cloth to the floor so no paint can get on the furniture. Place a second old sheet over the drop cloth. Cover the floor with more drop cloths and tape them down. Use blue painter’s tape to tape the edges of all windows and around doors. Patch any cracks or holes. Remove light bulbs from ceiling or wall fixtures and cover the fixtures with large plastic bags and tape them tightly closed.
Take off all the hardware.
While it may seem easier to paint around the cabinet hinges and door knobs, it won’t be. Paint will drip and it won’t all come up, so just take the door knobs, and door hinges, light switch plates, outlet covers, light fixtures, etc. off and place them all in separate zip loc bags. Be sure and keep all the right bits and pieces with each other in the correct bag and clearly mark the location and contents on each bag with a marker. Don’t put them back on until the paint is completely dry.
Dress yourself.
It is inevitable, you will get paint on yourself, so dress the part. Do not wear jewelry and wear old, comfortable clothes that you will not mind getting paint all over. Wear slip on shoes that you can step out of to leave the room when you need to go to other parts of the house. This way there will be no paint tracked into the rest of the house. When painting high or when painting the ceiling wear a scarf, hat or shower cap on your head. If you wear glasses, put some plastic wrap over the lenses.
Fix the walls.
Do not paint over cracks or holes in the walls. It doesn’t take much time to fix a hole or a crack and if it is painted over, it will eventually show through. If you don’t know how to do a repair, you can get help and advice from the personnel at a hardware store or a home center. Spackle will fill small holes and cracks and large holes and wide cracks can be bridges with fiberglass tape. There are texturizing products which will match existing wall finishes and which then can be painted over.
Now you’re ready to paint. Choosing the right paint and the right color are the next steps to making this weekend project happen.