Useful Plumbing Tips For Homeowners

Plumbing is a system of fixtures and pipes that are installed in a home or building for the sole purpose of distributing potable water and removing wastes that are waterborne. This is not the same thing as the sewage or water systems that service an area or a number of buildings.

Importance Of Plumbing In The Home

This is a very important system in the home which should not be taken lightly. It is the system that ensures that we have water in the home for every one of our daily activities. Additionally, it helps to remove waste products from the home from places such as the kitchen, bathroom, and toilets.

This aspect of home construction should not be toyed with because of the great danger that can befall the occupants of a building if it is not well done. Plumbing that is carried out properly would ensure that there are physical separations, air gaps, and strict observance of building codes. These codes stipulate how to separate plumbing elements for clean water and the ones for waste products.

The most dangerous thing in our own estimation that can happen with poor or faulty plumbing is cross-contamination.  This is a situation where the pipes that are carrying clean water somehow connect to the ones that are carrying waste products. You can visit this site for more information: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150607214248.htm

Simple Tasks That You Can DIY

Once you have been able to establish that your plumbing was properly done, there are some minor issues that you can DIY. Below are some of those issues and tips to help you:-

Replacement Of Some Parts In The Toilet

One of the things that can cause leaks in a toilet is worn flappers. Another thing that you can easily fix in the toilet is the cartridge of your faucet. These things are quite easy to change and their packages come with instructions on how to fix them.

A lot of the modern faucets that are used in houses these days are easy to repair by just changing the cartridge.  All you need for the replacement is to remove one or two screws, remove the worn-out one, replace and screw it back.

Removal Of Clogs Without Using Chemicals

When you notice that your drain is moving slowly, all you need to do is get a drain snake. You do not need to use chemicals; this is because the chemicals may erode the pipes.  To use it, all you need to do is put it in the drain and pull it out; hopefully, the pressure would unclog the drain.

You can also use a dry/wet shop vacuum to suck out whatever it is that clogged the drain. 

Dripping Showerhead

One of the simplest ways to repair a leaky shower head is to use thread tape. The probability is that the leak happened because the threads are not tightly connected. So what you have to do is to unscrew it and attach the new tape around it to stop the leak.  

In a situation where the spray head is clogged, you can soak it in vinegar and warm water solution for an hour. After that, you use a brush to remove the things that caused the blockage. 

Clogged Shower Drain or Bath

If you notice that your bathroom bath, shower, or sink is draining slowly, it most likely means that it is clogged. The most common things that clog bathroom drainage are soap and hair.  But thankfully, they can easily be unclogged with a plunger or plumber/drain snake; you can also use vinegar and baking powder to dissolve the debris that is  blocking the drain.

To use a plunger follow these 3 simple steps:-

1. Fill the bath/shower with enough water to submerge the end of the drain snake or plunger.
2. Apply  petroleum jelly around the edge of the pad to help enhance the seal
3. Then plunge the drain vigorously.

Do not just assume that the issue would get better without treating it. So use any of the methods we have mentioned that is convenient for you. After you have unclogged the drain, ensure that you use a drain guard to prevent debris from your bath to pass through and clog the drain again.

When And Why You Should Use A Professional Plumber

We have discussed some simple plumbing tasks that can be carried out by homeowners. However, there are some issues that should be left for professionals. Once the issue is beyond something that you can easily change or use a plunger to solve, just call a plumber.

Hiring a competent and well-trained plumber is important because of the health risks associated with poor plumbing or shoddy installations.  Apart from the dangers that come with poor plumbing installation, there is also the risk that is associated with the provision of proper sanitation and potable water.  These include cross-connections, water contamination, thermal shock, and scalding.

It is the job of professional and reliable plumbers to ensure that these systems are safely installed while reducing the risks.  What with population growth and increased urbanization, the need for dedicated professionals in this field cannot be overemphasized.  So as a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that you work with only the best. Do not cut corners when it comes to your plumbing systems so that you would not jeopardize the health of your family.

Conclusion

Leaky faucets apart from being irritating can lead to wastage that would in turn increase your utility bill. Apart from that, it can also affect the integrity of the structure of a home if left unattended for long.  This, however, is not the only problem that might warrant the attention of a plumber.

It is therefore important that you have the contact details of a competent plumber whom you can always call upon when anything goes wrong with or in your plumbing system.  Do not let any plumbing problem linger so that it does not cause more damage than envisaged.