In any home, there’s an ongoing amount of maintenance around the house. Whether that’s decorating rooms to keep it looking fresh or making home improvements due to wear and tear, there’s always something to do. But what about DIY plumbing?

When it comes to plumbing, we might have the number of a plumber on hand in case of emergencies or to call upon for planned installations, such as putting in a new bathroom.

However, it’s useful to have general knowledge about domestic plumbing, as some basic plumbing jobs can be done yourself with the right know-how and there are many more you can take on with training.

5 plumbing jobs that every homeowner should know about

On a practical level, there are a few basic plumbing jobs that it’s useful to have some knowledge of, even if it’s only to mitigate emergencies and help you assess when to call in a professional plumber.

How to shut off the water supply to a property

This is the first thing to do before doing any plumbing work or if there’s a leak. Known as the stopcock or stop valve, the internal stop tap will shut off the water supply to the property. It looks like a tap handle and is usually under the kitchen sink, but this does vary. It’s essential that you familiarise yourself with where it is and how to turn it off.

How to fix a leaky tap

A dripping tap is not only annoying, but it can also be costly, adding to your water bill and in severe cases causing water damage. Often, it’s simply caused by worn out or damaged parts, or poor installation, in which case it’s fairly straightforward to fix a leaky tap.

How to bleed a radiator

Knowing when and how to bleed your radiators will help to keep your radiators and heating system running efficiently. Trapped air in the radiators prevents them from working efficiently because the water can’t circulate properly. You might notice cold spots on the radiator, a rattling noise, or an increase in your energy bill.

How to unblock a trap or u-bend

Slow-draining water in your kitchen sink or bathroom basin could be due to a block in the trap or u-bend. Often, it can be through a build-up of grease or food, hair, or soap scum, but by safely removing and cleaning the trap, you can resolve the problem or work out whether it’s a blockage further down.

How to fix a toilet flush

From weak flushes to running toilets, having an understanding of the flushing mechanisms will help you to identify issues with your toilet. For example, a worn or faulty flapper can cause tank filling issues which could result in a weaker flush or constantly running water.

Learn DIY plumbing properly

If you’re interested in taking your plumbing theoretical know-how to real hands-on knowledge, then why not do the Introduction to Plumbing course at Able Skills?

In the words of one student who did the Introduction to Plumbing course, “I'm getting the same introductory course as anyone who goes on to do a proper qualification.”

Over five days or two weekends, you’ll learn essential plumbing skills so that you’ll be able to do many of the DIY plumbing jobs that you’d encounter at home. Things like fixing a toilet flush, plumbing in a new basin, or removing and replacing a radiator. Find out more about the Introduction to Plumbing Course.