Five Plumbing Tips You Need to Know!
Although Plumbing is not everyone’s favorite topic, there is at least 5 plumbing tips you need to know!
These tips will come in handy if not now, in the future, I promise you. Everyone needs a plumber sooner or later, so let’s get you informed on the most important factors concerning your plumbing.
- “There is water everywhere. How do I turn off the water!” This is by far the most important thing you need to know about your plumbing. If a emergency happened right now, would you know how to turn your water off?There is two different kind of valves you might have at your home.
- Gate Valve: This valve is one of the most reliable and can last for many years. The problem with these valves is that because they last for so long, they become very difficult to turn after not doing so in such a long time.
* Try closing the main shut off now if you have never done so. It is better to know now if you are able to do it with your bare hands than to wait until you are ankle deep in water. Remember righty tighty – lefty loosy.
Ball Valve: If you have plastic or copper main water pipes leading into your home, chances are you have a full-flow ball valve. Take a look at the valve now that it is open, the handle should be aligned with the pipe. To close the valve, turn the handle clockwise. The handle should end up right angle to the pipe when fully closed. - “How do I stop a toilet from overflowing?”
If you see the water in your toilet quickly rising, do you know what to do? You need to stop it fast, but do you know how? Here are the steps on stopping a toilet from overflowing fast.- First, take off the lid found on top of the tank. There is a floating ball in the tank, you need to raise the bar that its attached to. That will stop the water from flowing into the tank. If you see that the water in the bowl does not unclog and drain, you need to quickly turn the water off at the base of the toilet. When you hear the water has stopped flowing you will know you shut it off completely.-Next you will need to plunge the toilet until it is unclogged.-Finally, once you see that it is in the clear, go ahead and re-open the water supply. - “How do I prevent a costly leak in my home?”
Prevention is key when it comes to plumbing. Did you know that there is a $10.00 tool you can purchase that will help prevent leaks in your home?The tool: a water pressure gauge.
High water pressure is a major cause of leaks, pipe damage, and wasted water.-Test your water pressure and make sure it is not above 80 psi. If you find that the water pressure is to high, you need to have a licensed plumber install a water pressure regulator. The water pressure regulator should be between 55-75 psi to prevent leaks, pipe damage, water heater damage and even wasted water. - “What kind of information should I know about my plumbing when buying a home?”
The most informative question to ask is what types of pipes the house has and how old the plumbing is. When the house is on the older side, the pipes can be made of galvanized or clay piping material that easily corrodes and breaks. These pipes should be replaced immediately. - “How do I know when to replace my water heater, and how old is it?”
The lifespan of a water heater is anywhere from 7 to 15 years depending on the quality of water in your area and the age of your tank. We typically recommend that a home owner start to research new water heaters at around the water heaters age of 7. With planning you will find a water heater that suits you and your family well.If you don’t know how old your water heater is, look at its serial number. The last two digits of the heater’s serial number usually represent the year of manufacture.If it’s time for you to research regarding purchasing a new water heater, a lot has changed in the past years. Consider going green with a tankless water heater that not only saves you space, but also has the ability of saving you around 40% on your energy bill while providing you with endless hot water!And there you have it, the 5 plumbing tips you need to know!
