DIY Plumbing Guide
Step-by-step DIY plumbing repair guides with tool reviews and cost-saving tips for homeowners.
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How to use your water meter to find a hidden leak
A step-by-step water meter leak test: how to read the dials, how to tell whether a leak is inside your home or on the underground supply pipe, who pays for the repair and how to claim a leakage allowance.
Who is responsible for which water pipes? A UK homeowner's guide
Where the water company's responsibility ends and yours begins: water mains, communication pipes, supply pipes, shared supply pipes, stop taps and meters, plus what happens if a leak is on your side of the boundary.
How to unblock a sink, bath or shower
Safe, step-by-step ways to clear blocked sinks, baths and showers, from hot water and plungers to cleaning the trap, plus what not to pour down drains and when to call a professional.
How to find and turn off your stopcock
Where to find the internal and external stopcocks, how to turn them off safely, what to do if one is stuck, and how to drain the system in a leak emergency.
How to fix a dripping tap
Identify your tap type, isolate the water, and replace the washer or ceramic cartridge step by step, with the tools you need and when to call a plumber.
How to fix a toilet that keeps running
Why toilets run on, how to diagnose the fill valve, flush valve or overflow, and step-by-step fixes for lever, push-button and dual-flush cisterns.
Plumbing rules in the UK: what homeowners need to know
The main rules that apply to home plumbing in the UK: the water fittings regulations, work you must notify to your water supplier, Building Regulations for drainage and hot water, Gas Safe, lead pipes and your responsibilities for supply pipes.
Ten DIY plumbing mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common DIY plumbing mistakes in UK homes, from not isolating the water and overtightening fittings to the wrong tape, chemical drain cleaners and missing backflow protection, and how to avoid each one.
DIY or plumber? How to decide which jobs to do yourself
A practical way to decide which plumbing jobs are safe and sensible to DIY in a UK home and which need a qualified plumber or Gas Safe engineer, with the legal limits, the risks and how to choose a professional.
A beginner's plumbing toolkit: what you actually need
The plumbing tools worth owning for basic DIY in a UK home, what each one is for, what to skip, and the spare parts and supplies that save an emergency trip to the merchant.
Frozen and burst pipes: prevention and what to do
How to stop pipes freezing in a UK winter, how to thaw a frozen pipe safely, what to do immediately if a pipe bursts, condensate pipes on combi boilers, and insurance tips.
DIY Leak Repair Checklist: Essential Steps to Identify and Fix Common Household Plumbing Issues
Are you dealing with the frustration of a leaking plumbing issue in your home? Whether it's a dripping faucet, a running toilet, or a burst pipe, leaks…
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DIY Plumbing Tutorial for Beginners: A Full Guide to Basic Home Repair Techniques
Becoming proficient in basic home repair can save you both time and money, especially in the UK where DIY projects are increasingly popular. This full…
How to use your water meter to find a hidden leak
A step-by-step water meter leak test: how to read the dials, how to tell whether a leak is inside your home or on the underground supply pipe, who pays for the repair and how to claim a leakage allowance.
Who is responsible for which water pipes? A UK homeowner's guide
Where the water company's responsibility ends and yours begins: water mains, communication pipes, supply pipes, shared supply pipes, stop taps and meters, plus what happens if a leak is on your side of the boundary.
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