DIY Plumbing tips and tricks that you should know
23 March 2022
DIY plumbing is easier than you think even for people with the slightest of knowledge about fixing leaking taps, pipes or complete water systems and it could save you money and time.
Here are some tips you should know which could help benefit you:
1. Do not put oil or grease down the drain
Oil and grease build up fairly quick, it’s hard to notice at first but ‘drip by drip’ the oil and grease will clog your pipes and cause you serious plumbing problems.
Next time you are washing up or thinking of pouring oil or grease down the drain, make sure you think of all the money and time you could save from keeping the drain nice and fresh.
2. Always keep a plumbing kit
A plumbing kit can be very useful, a plumbing kit should include a plunger to unclog drains, duct tape to wrap around the rare tap leak, heavy duty paper rolls or a towel to clear water leaks and dirt from the floor. Finally, a flat-edged and cross screw driver are a must for a plumbing kit.
3. Identify your main water valve
It is important to know where your main water valve is in case of any future emergencies. If a pipe does burst, turning your main water valve off will save you a lot of time and water.
4. Actively test your toilet’s flush valve seal for any leaks
Toilet leaks can be nothing more than a nightmare when they happen unexpectedly, catching the culprit early will help reduce any large issues. The most common place to find a leak is in your toilet’s flush valve seal. The flush valve seal keeps water flowing from the tank to your toilet’s bowl. The most simplest way to check for a leak is to add some drops of food colouring into your toilet’s tank and wait a few hours, if the coloured water does end up in your bowl – it usually means there is a leak.
5. Do not over-tight fittings
There is a mis-conception that over-tightening fittings and connections is good long term, this is completely wrong and the complete opposite could occur as over-tightening fittings and connections only leads to broken screws and bolts.
6. Recognise what is flushable
It is important you know what is and isn’t flushable. The toilet is not a bin and flushing anything except toilet paper can lead to clogs, items like wipes can also clog the toilet! If your toilet flush is giving you troubles, fill up half a bucket of water and dump in your toilet.
7. Only drill walls when you know the position of your water pipes
If you’re a DIY enthusiast, it’s important that you know the position of your pipes as you could risk puncturing a pipe. If you are thinking of drilling your walls or ceilings, invest in a stud finder or endoscopic camera before drilling!
8. Learn how to test water pressure
Water pressure is important in letting you know about the condition of your pipes. Usually, lower water pressure indicates leaky faucets, clogged aerators or could be a sign of a blockage.
