James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
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Co-authored Articles (40)
How to Quickly and Easily Unclog a Toilet
The most effective ways to unclog your toilet with or without a plunger Clogged toilet troubling you? Plunging your way out of the situation is often the fastest and most efficient fix. Don't have a plunger? No worries!...
How to
Adjust the Water Level in Toilet Bowl
A high or low water level in your toilet may not seem like a big deal, but with time, it can cause problems. When there isn’t enough water in the tank, the flushing power may suffer, leading to troublesome blocks and c...
How to Remove and Replace a Sink Stopper
Get your sink back to normal with this easy DIY guide It's time to replace your sink stopper—but with all the parts and pieces around and below your sink drain, you aren't completely sure how to get started. As far as ...
8 Easy Ways to Repair a Leaky Pipe
Stop water leaks temporarily or permanently with our plumbing guide If you find a leaking pipe in your bathroom, kitchen, or elsewhere, acting fast can prevent extensive damage. Quickly patch the pipe by turning off th...
How to Fix a Running Toilet: Your Ultimate Guide
A complete walkthrough on how troubleshoot the flapper, fill valve, and float A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day while running up your water bill—it can also just be super annoying to liste...
How to Shut Off Your Toilet’s Water Supply
Turn off the water using your toilet’s shutoff valve or main water supplyIf you’re trying to fix something wrong with your toilet, the first step is turning off the water supply. However, if you’ve never done this ...
How to Remove & Install a Toilet Fill Valve: A Step-by-Step Guide
Fix a leaking toilet in a snap with this simple DIY repairA faulty toilet fill valve can cause your toilet to run all the time, fill the tank slower than usual, or leak water from the tank. Luckily, the fill valve can be...
How to Adjust 3 Kinds of Fill Valves on a Toilet
If your toilet doesn’t have as much flushing power or if you hear a hiss as the tank refills, then your fill valve might be to blame. The fill valve, or inlet valve, connects to your water supply and controls how much ...
How to Apply Teflon Plumber’s Tape
A quick and easy guide for wrapping thread seal tape to prevent leaks Do you want a simple way to seal your pipe connections so they’re easier to screw together without any leaks? Then Teflon tape (plumber’s tape) i...
How to
Adjust Faucet Water Pressure
Faucets with low water pressure don’t run consistently while those with high water pressure can waste water and energy. Luckily, there are easy ways that you can adjust your water pressure for each faucet. If you want ...
How to Properly Use a Plunger to Get Rid of Drain Clogs
Clear blockages in a toilet, sink, or shower with our plumbing guide If you have a toilet that won’t flush or a sink with standing water, using a plunger is one of the easiest DIY solutions to try. Plungers make an ai...
How to
Fix a Leaky Fill Valve in a Toilet
Does your toilet keep running and you’re not sure why? When you flush, the fill valve inside the tank refills the water, but it could also cause leaks if there’s an issue. Even though a new fill valve sounds like a l...
How to Unclog a Toilet with a Snake
Clearing and preventing plumbing blockages with an auger or other tools Got a stubborn clog that seems to be a bit too much for the plunger? A toilet snake, also known as an auger, is a plumbing tool used to break up and...
How to Empty a Toilet Bowl for Cleaning, Repair, or Removal
Drain your toilet easily with our expert-approved DIY guideYou may need to drain a toilet to give the bowl or tank a thorough cleaning, especially if you need to do repairs. Fortunately, you can drain a toilet in only a ...
How to
Fix a Broken Pipe
All it takes to fix a small leak or break in a household water pipe is a few common materials at the hardware store and a couple hours of work. Of course, some bigger repairs should be left to the plumber, but even then ...
How to Remove a Shower Drain
Open your drain safely, quickly, and without any headaches The first step to repairing or replacing a shower drain is often removing it from the shower. If you've never removed a shower drain before, don't fret. You don'...
How to Unclog a Slow Shower Drain (and Prevent Future Blockages)
''Clear your slow shower drain with these effective and easy home remedies''When you notice the water in your shower or bathtub is not flowing down your drain easily, there are plenty of home remedies you can try before ...
10 Easy Solutions to Unblock a Clogged Bathroom Sink Drain
Proven solutions to clear pipes and get water flowing freelyIf you’ve got a bathroom sink that's draining slowly, you probably have a partial blockage and it’s best to fix the problem now before it becomes a full clo...
How to
Increase Water Pressure in a Toilet
A toilet with a weak flush can be a major cause of frustration. If it regularly takes you two or more flushes to accomplish what a single flush should, it may be time to address the problem at its source—inside the tan...
How to
Unclog a Toilet with Baking Soda
Troublesome toilet clogs are frustrating to deal with, especially when you need use of the toilet in your home! Luckily, you will be able to fix many toilet clogs cheaply with the help of baking soda and a plunger, befor...