Advice For People Trying To Do Their Own Plumbing

You've done it – you are ready to handle your home's plumbing services.

What perfect timing!

You probably have tons of questions on how to start and what to do, but fear not, this article can help you.

Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your plumbing aspirations.

Tip #1 – Avoid Plumbing Problems to Begin With

Do not stop up the toilet!

Some common items that will stop up a toilet include: toys, hair, paper towels, birth control items, and feminine personal products.

Do not flush these items down your toilet unless the instructions say otherwise!

These can stop up your toilet - to the point that nothing else will work except calling a plumbing contractor!

Tip #2 – Do Not DIY – Call A Plumber

To help you repair a leaky water line, you should hire a plumber.

A leaking water line can be a problem because it could lead to a flood.

The best way to fix this problem is to hire a licensed plumber who is trained to repair leaking pipes.

Tip #3 – Never Pour Grease Down the Drain

Do not put cooking oils, fat, or grease, down your drain as these fats cause clogs by solidifying in pipes.

To properly dispose of fats, put them in a bowl with a lid that you can dispose of.

Once it gets hard, throw it in the trash or compost bin.

Tip #4 – Cushion and Anchor Water Pipes

If you have noisy pipes, you can cushion them with a rubber blanket or add additional anchor straps.

Banging pipes are usually caused by loose pipes, water hammering to a stop as you turn it off, or hot water pipes shifting in their position.

All of these problems can be solved by cushioning and anchoring the pipes.

Now You Are Ready!

Now you should be much more prepared when it comes to plumbing solutions.

If you thought that you were ready before, well you should now be an expert!

The tips that were given should have provided you some advice that can help you get started with any plumbing solutions you might need in your home.

Common Plumbing Problems and Who Should Handle Them!

Plumbers get calls about all kinds of plumbing problems, from the simple to the complex.

While it is frequently possible for homeowners to remedy basic problems on their own, plumbing services are sometimes required when the basic solutions fail to yield results.

These are just a few of the more common plumbing issues that homeowners deal with and how they can be handled.

Problems that persist afterward and demand the attention of a plumbing company suggest a deeper issue that requires special equipment and the skill needed to operate it. 

  • Clogged Toilets - Plungers and special preparations designed to clear toilets are the normal starting point. If these don’t work, the blockage might be further along in the sewer line and require attention from plumbers with a drain snake or auger to clear it.
  • Dripping Faucets - Dripping or leaking faucets are usually caused by dislodged, damaged, or missing washers within the faucet mechanism. If taking the faucet apart or finding a replacement part is an issue, a plumbing service can take care of that problem quickly. 
  • Slow Draining/Clogged Tubs or Sinks - Residue, hair, or other debris can slow the passage of water down drainage lines or stop it altogether. When chemical drain cleaners don’t help, plumbing companies can handle tougher blockages with equipment to locate and then dislodge them.
  • Stuck Garbage Disposal - Disposals come with specific instructions on how to clear them. As these appliances can be dangerous to deal with, plumbers should be called when the manufacturer’s instructions for homeowners fail to resolve the problem. 
  • Signs of Leaky Pipes - Simple leaks due to a loose nut fitting can be easily fixed with a wrench. Leaks noticed in the walls, behind appliances, or elsewhere may require the expertise of a plumbing service
  • Low Water Pressure - A common issue that plagues owners of older homes, low water pressure can be caused by something as simple as mineral buildup in faucet fixtures or as complex as leaks somewhere in the plumbing system. Plumbers have special equipment to search for hidden leaks when the easy solutions of cleaning shower heads and faucet filters do not resolve the issue. 
  • Sewer Backup - Whether due to tree roots growing into the line, a blockage far down inside, or some other cause, wastewater backing up into the house is an unfortunately common occurrence in some older homes, too. It is also a plumbing service emergency to be resolved by professionals.

Dealing with any of these common plumbing problems? Homeowners can try the simple solution first.

If those do not resolve the issue, a call to a plumbing company will handle it and get things flowing once again!

How to Design Your Own Plumbing System At Home

Creating your own home's plumbing system is a good way to save money and the main thing here that saves you money is the avoidance of unnecessary plumbing parts and equipment.

You will find yourself getting familiar with the workings of your plumbing system which will be of great benefit to you because you will be able to do some quick repairs on your plumbing system.

This page will be very helpful when you want to design your own plumbing system at home.

Know Plumbing Code

Number one thing to do is to be familiar with the plumbing code as there are various plumbing codes for each city and municipality.

It is recommended that you visit your city or municipal hall to check on your plumbing code.

Basically, your plumbing code will provide you with most of the details in terms of the general layout you can have for your plumbing system.

It is important that you know the plumbing terms and the physics involved for this plumbing task.

Have Plumbing Inspector Approve Design

It is important that you get a plumbing inspector to sign and approve of the design and finished plumbing work in your house.

Checking with the plumbing inspector even before you start the plumbing task is a good idea in order to make sure everything is according to the code.

This will make sure that before you do your system, it has already passed the quality control of your plumbing inspector.

Better Know Basic Plumbing Tasks

Make sure that you have had practice in basic plumbing and assembly before starting this task as this will help you avoid unnecessary steps and methods or purchasing the wrong tools and materials.

It is always a good idea to start some practice, like putting joints together and soldering pipes.

So those are the things you need to learn prior to doing your own plumbing system.

You will surely succeed if you heed these things before you start any plumbing task at home.