Prevent a Home-Plumbing Nightmare in 10 Steps

When homeowners hoist a wrench to install or repair bathtubs, sinks and toilets, they risk significantly more than leaks. They risk their sanity, financing and general mechanical catastrophe. Bellevue Plumber

1. Don't go galvanic. You often see copper and galvanized steel plumbing combined in residential water systems with nothing separating them other than the usual small screw thread sealant or Teflon plumbing tape. The galvanic connection (copper to steel) can be trouble free for years or the steel plumbing can begin to corrode practically the moment the connection is tight.

Things to do: Utilize a plumbing fitting called a dielectric union to connect copper conduit to galvanized steel. The fitting uses a copper collar on the copper side and isolation bushings and a steel collar on the steel side to maintain the parts separate.

2. Flow out, not back. If there's a substantial flow within your house, precisely the same thing can happen.

What to do: In case your house's water is provided by way of a municipal water system and you do plenty of work outside using a garden hose, utilize a vacuum-breaker fitting threaded onto the end of the hose bib (the valve mounted on the not in the house). These fittings prevent back flow from a garden hose and attachments in the case of a gigantic shift in pressure. Some municipalities require their use, and they are not a poor idea even for those who possess a good. In case you're replacing a hose bib, utilize a freeze-proof type having a built-in vacuum breaker. Common sense measures employ also. Bellevue Plumbers

Likewise, if you replace or repair the main supply and valves entering your house, you could probably have to put in a back-flow preventer.

3. Use the ideal connector. Don't forget, gas lines count as plumbing too. Connecting a brand new gas range or dryer to an existing gas line appears straightforward, but the job can quickly go awry when you attempt to hook up a flexible gas connector to the line and find that the connector does not fit or you can't make the connection gas tight, no matter how tight you make the connection.

What things to do: That is a screw thread compatibility issue generally brought about by a mismatch involving the iron pipe supplying the fitting as well as gas on the end of the flexible connector you wish to utilize to bring the fuel to the appliance. The easiest alternative is to purchase a universal connection kit for a gas range or for a drier. The kit will come with a variety of adapters to assist you make the transition from fitting and the conduit providing the gasoline to whatever appliance will be using it.

4. Understand wherever your pipes are. Things to do: Buy a stud sensor that also detects pipes and wirings. You may also look around in the attic or the basement (if it is unfinished) to get a feeling of where pipes are hiding. Finally, if anything you're constructing or installing will covers the wall, a test hatch can always carefully cut on to discover plumbing lurking.

5. Know the code. Plumbing is a tricky business, with rules that dictate how far you're able to set a fixture from the house's drain-waste-vent line based on the pipe diameter along with other arcane matters. The sole path it is possible to manage a large job what it calls for in pipe sizing, relevant matters and fixture spacing and yourself is to be aware of the code.

Things to do: There is tons of reference for ambitious do-it-yourselfers. Purchase a duplicate of the International Plumbing Code or the Uniform Plumbing Code. One of the greatest references that we've used here over the years is Code Check, as building codes are updated a handbook that is updated. Certainly one of its best features is the fact that it really is written to cover common issues and things that even professionals get incorrect.

6. Cut appropriate, fit tight. You can't make a neat water- or gas tight joint unless the parts are neatly cut. What things to do: Buy pro-level tube cutters, reciprocating-saw blades, hacksaw blades plus a plastic pipe tool. For instance, you 'll be the $5 particular from the home center, as well as amazed by the difference between a tube cutter that is professional from Ridgid, say. Similarly, it appears absurd to spend $20 when a regular handsaw functions pretty well, for a plastic pipe power saw. The thing is, the plastic conduit saw works and leaves less of a burr since its teeth have very little establish in comparison to a power saw meant for cutting wood.

Remove burrs from copper and plastic and thoroughly clean both types of plumbing materials before soldering or gluing. Copper is better abraded with plumber's cloth (aluminum oxide sandpaper on a spool) and plastic necessitates material-specific primer that softens the plastic so that the adhesive can make an optimum bond. When pipe feels dirty or greasy, use pipe cleaner. A few minutes of preparation goes a long way in ensuring a watertight or gas-tight joint.

7. Seal the offer. Only a soldered or glued joint doesn't require sealant; everything else does.

What to do: There are commonly two kinds of sealant tapes in hardware stores and home centers. Tape for sealing water connections (in a blue spool) and tape for sealing gas (in a yellowish spool). Yet there's no requirement for you to be satisfied with merely those choices. Kinds that are brushable are often carried by pros, with variants specially invented for galvanized steel or threaded plastic. Visit a plumbing supply shop or house on the internet to find these varieties. Professional varieties possess a higher percent of gap-filling solids and better ensure a tight joint--no small matter given the insufficient thread engagement that you often find today with poorly made valves, plumbing stuff and fixtures.

8. Do not over- tighten. If is great, really tight must be better. Right? Wrong.

Things to do: Given what I just said about the hit-or-miss quality of several pipes parts today, you'd think that a generous use of wrench torque is called for. Not so. Fitted joint and a clean, correctly cut that's been sealed only does not need to be massively tightened. In many cases, after bringing the parts together firmly hand- utilizing a wrench or tight, often all it takes is another half a turn. In fact, brass-copper gas fittings are especially exposed to wrench damage from over-tightening, while steel conduit is more forgiving.

9. Flow evaluation. Consistently. It must be obvious: Make a thorough flow review before closing up and moving on.

What to do: Do the same when checking empties. Run then drain it to check for leaks and fill up a sink or tub and water down a drain. Assess gas lines using a soapy water and detergent solution or spend a couple of dollars for an 8-oz bottle of bubble-creating leak detector sold on the Web or in a plumbing supply house. The advantage of this substance, as opposed to dish detergent, is that it creates larger, more bright visible bubbles than detergent does.

10. Be type. To your septic system, that is. We get asked this question all of the time: "Should I use an additive to improve the performance of my septic system and decrease the need to pump the septic tank?" An additive can be nearly anything from sugar or enzymes to a dead chicken (we are not kidding about the chicken--we get that one lots).

Things to do: Don't bother with additives, notably the chicken. A septic-tank-pumping business can help you on how often the tank must be pumped. It'll depend just how many individuals live in your home and on the size of the tank. Likewise, prevent excessive use of chlorine bleach or caustic chemicals that can kill off beneficial digestive bacteria in the septic tank.