Indoor plumbing is one of the great technological advances of the 20th century, but when plumbing goes bad, it goes bad fast.
The need for great plumbing is as obvious as the need for expert knowledge when it comes to doing any plumbing work in your own home. Granted, we should all know how to use a plunger, but there is far more to home plumbing than that. With just a bit of knowledge and a little elbow grease, you can take the steps needed to prevent a plumbing problem from becoming a plumbing nightmare.
Test for leaks
When you’re finished working on any plumbing fixtures, do a thorough test for leaks. Open and close the valve associated with the work you were doing and run both hot and cold water through.
You’ll want to do the same when checking drains. Run water down a drain and fill up a sink or tub and then drain it to check for leaks. A few extra minutes of this can save you some serious plumbing and flooding headache later.
Don’t over tighten
It seems only natural that the tighter a connection the better, right? Unfortunately, that’s not true. Some connection fittings can be over-tightened causing them to be damaged or misshapen by an over-zealous wrench. If you’re able to finish your plumbing work with a properly fitted connection, things only need to be secured, not wrenched tight. Don’t over do it or you may find yourself stuck if future fixes need to be addressed.
Got pipes?
If you own a home, you have pipes. You may tend to leave the fixing of those pipes to experts like us, but you still need to know where they lie. Invest in a stud detector that also locates pipes and wiring so that you can decorate and design your home without hammering into anything that may burst or short out.
Keep it clear
You wouldn’t consider flushing a bunch of potato peels or that leftover stew from last week, would you? Granted, garbage disposals are great amenities in any kitchen, but just because they’re there, doesn’t mean you have to shred up everything that comes through your kitchen. Also, cooking oil, grease and other fats can literally gunk up the pipes in your kitchen sink, causing serious plumbing problems. Be smart about your kitchen disposal and periodically flush it out with boiling water to keep it clear.