Are you tired of having to pay plumbers for the smallest plumbing issue? If so, then you must be wondering whether you can do some of the plumbing tasks by yourself. The answer to this is a resounding yes. There are some plumbing issues, such as fixing leaky faucets and clogged drains, that you can fix on your own.
However, before fixing plumbing issues on your own, you first need to learn some basic tips, which are invaluable in the long-run. For one, you get to save plenty of money that you would’ve otherwise spent paying a professional plumber.
If you want to start doing some plumbing tasks on your own, you’re in the right place. Here’s a guide highlighting some tips on plumbing that you need to know as a homeowner.
1. Invest In A Quality Plunger
Having a plunger with you will be of great help when it comes to unclogging sinks, drains, and toilets. A plunger is a handy tool since it allows you to force out a considerable amount of water before you can try to get rid of the clog.
If your efforts are unsuccessful, pour plenty of hot water into the drain as this does an excellent job loosening up the clog within a couple of minutes. After doing so, use your plunger to try and remove the clog.
2. Identify The Exact Location Of Your Home’s Main Water Shut-Off Valve
Another important thing you should do to prevent extensive damage to your personal belongings is to find out where the main water shut-off is positioned. Knowing this is crucial because even the slightest issue, such as a minor leak, might quickly become unmanageable. As a result, your home, in no time, gets flooded, causing significant destruction to your home.
To prevent this altogether, you need to know where the water shut-off valve is located. In most cases, the valves are positioned behind the toilet, below the sink, in the garage, or behind a piece of equipment that uses water, such as a washing machine. You can also find the shut-off valve in your yard below the ground or on your home’s foundation.
If you have any difficulty locating this valve, the best thing to do is to get in touch with the local water municipality.
3. Inspect For Leaks
One of the most common plumbing issues you’ll encounter are leaking showerheads and faucets. Therefore, inspecting for leaks should be one of the first things that you should start teaching yourself. This way, you get to prevent spending a lot of money on water spillage.
The best thing about this repair is that it isn’t expensive. This is because all you need is a wrench to fasten the loose faucets, stopping the leaks. Another solution you should consider is installing new faucets.
4. Know The Pipe’s Location Before You Start Drilling
When doing repairs in your home, you need to be very careful not to drill and nail a pipe. Otherwise, you’ll need to deal with expensive repair costs due to severe damage.
To prevent such a mistake, you should start locating the spots where the pipes are passing through. You can do this by using an endoscopic camera that can maneuver its way into the walls. Only after that should you proceed and start using your hammer to drill holes into the wall or the floor.
5. Never Overtighten The Connections
While performing plumbing repairs, it’s easy to get tempted to overtight the connections and fittings to prevent minor leaks. However, this only has a counterintuitive effect as it results in the damage and stripping of the plumbing fixture.
Instead, you should aim for the perfect balance as this ensures that the plumbing fixtures don’t start stripping and that the fittings aren’t loose.
6. Inspect The Water Pressure
Knowing your home’s water pressure is an ideal way to tell whether there are issues with the plumbing system. This will help you determine whether there are any leaks in your home as it enables you to effortlessly monitor water usage. Therefore, you should make it a routine to inspect the water pressure regularly.
Low water pressure is usually a sign that there might be a leakage, while excess pressure might show that you need to get a pressure-lowering valve.
Takeaway
Learning basic plumbing tips is essential to ensure that the plumbing pipes in your home run efficiently and smoothly. This is vital to guarantee everyone’s happiness in your home while safeguarding them from possible health concerns.
If you didn’t know where to start, mentioned above are useful tips to put in place in case of a plumbing emergency.