If you're planning on doing some do it yourself plumbing, congratulations! You're about to embark on a great project for your home that can be money-saving and fulfilling at the same time. But doing it yourself involves much more than strapping on a tool belt and tackling leaky faucets with a wrench. Majority of plumbing disasters happen when somebody tries to do some plumbing work without knowing what plumbing is all about. It's important to know what you're getting into before you even touch your tool belt.
Be Reasonable
The most important thing that you need to understand is that there are always going to be some plumbing jobs you just can't do. Roof plumbing, renovation and remodeling work always require professional attention. In these cases, you'll probably end up spending more time and money if you try to do the job yourself. Also, if you're a novice to plumbing, you need to be aware of a few basics before you start.
First of all, before you do any kind of plumbing work, you need to shut off your main water valve. Even if you're just fixing a leaky faucet, make sure you shut the valve off first- if you don't, you could find yourself with a flooded house! The valve is usually located next to your water meter. Now what are the do it yourself plumbing jobs you can easily tackle yourself?
Clogs and leaks are probably one of the most notorious plumbing problems of all- yet anyone can fix them if they know how! This is because most sink blocks happen because of hair, soap and grime deposits. In other cases, things like buttons or pieces of jewelry can cause a clog. The first thing you should do is run some hot water through your drains to dissolve any coagulant deposits. If you've still got a block problem, use a plunger to try and loosen it. You can also use something called a plumber's snake to pull out difficult clogs.
Faucet Fixing
Another common problem that can be tackled with do it yourself plumbing is leaks and drips. These can be pretty annoying and if you've got a number of leaky taps, dripping all day long, you can bet they are adding on to your water bill. Most leaks happen at the faucet- in older faucet models, the problem is usually due to a worn washer, which can be easily replaced. Newer faucets are the cartridge faucet that has an easily replaceable cartridge which anyone can change. If you have a ball-type faucet, the leak can be fixed by replacing the cam seals or the rubber seals. For disc type faucets, leaks can be cleared up by replacing the o-rings. Remember that when doing repair work, you need to shut off your main water valve first. It's also a good idea to line your sink with towels to make sure you don't lose any small parts.
Do it yourself plumbing jobs also need the right kind of tools. You need to ensure that your toolkit includes an internal pipe wrench, a faucet handle puller, a yoke vise, chain vise and a reamer. You will also need separate cutters for PVC tubing and copper piping. To deal with clogs and blocks, make sure you have a good plunger, an auger and a plumber's snake handy. Contrary to popular opinion, chemicals are not the best way to deal with a clog. In fact, they can actually corrode your piping and make it weak. Once you've equipped yourself with the right tools and the right know-how, you'll be ready to tackle those plumbing jobs yourself. Though they might seem a little tough at first, you'll gain experience and speed after you've done a few projects.
