The average homeowner will have to call a plumber for assistance with something in their home at least once, but there are also those little plumbing issues that you can perfectly handle on your own. A tiny leak in a pipe, a washer that's deteriorated and needs to be replaced, a faucet that drips — all of these are perfect examples of little plumbing problems that are easy enough to manage without professional knowledge. It is always best if you already have what you need on hand when something goes awry with your plumbing system. So here is a look at a few common plumbing parts every homeowner should have hanging around the house for just-in-case situations. 

Pipe Putty

You spot a drip coming from the line beneath the sink, but you do not have the time to fix it the right way just yet. Thankfully, if you have some pipe putty on hand (sometimes referred to as plumber's putty), you can grab a small dab and seal off a leak in a pipe quickly. This is a more temporary solution to a leak, but it is one that will hold you over until you get a new piece of pipe or get in touch with a plumber. 

Sink Faucet Washer Seals

Imagine this scenario: you are in the middle of washing dishes with the water running. Something goes wrong, and water starts spilling out from the faucet handle pretty fast. What is the problem and what can you do? The problem is a small washer that acts as a seal inside of the faucet handle that keeps water from leaking through the handle as it passes on to the faucet. Turn the water off to the faucet, take off the faucet handle with a screwdriver, and replace the seal. This is a simple task, but it will be even more simplified if you already have the washer seals on hand. 

Pipe Epoxy Plugging Material

If you notice a piece of pipe has a hold in it, which can happen with age or if a pipe bursts, plumbing putty usually won't stick right because of the moisture, but pipe epoxy definitely will. This gooey stuff comes in two parts that you mix together just before plugging the hole. It hardens in place quickly to form a plug in the hole. Just having a bit of this epoxy on hand can mean the difference between sustaining water damage in the leaking spot and not. 

For more information, contact a company like Universal Plumbing.