Just about everyone wants to save money, anywhere and anytime they can. In fact, the prospect of saving money even makes DIY plumbing repairs look attractive. A few words of warning, however: proceed with caution. DIY plumbing fixes can be a great way to get the toilet working again fast, but they can also go horribly wrong, especially if you do not know what you are doing. Know these things to avoid gushing water and flooded rooms.
Start With The Basics: Know How To Turn Off The Water
Your best defenses against unwanted waterfalls and geysers in your home are the shutoff valves. Find the exact location of your shutoff valves, and know how to turn off water to faucets, the toilet, laundry machine, and dishwasher. Most of these valves will be stored in the basement; some may be concealed by access panels.
Make A DIY Plumbing Repair Toolbox
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re going to make repairs, you need tools. Of course, according to the experts, some tools are better than others. Make sure to have a basic wrench, pipe wrench, adjustable wrench, plunger, fire-resistant cloth, and several heavy duty hose clamps. Hose clamps can easily seal leaks by applying even pressure from all sides. This will stop gas or liquid leaks quickly, even an emergency situation. Remember, it’s better to have too many tools than too few.
Start With At Least Some General Knowledge
“Before starting a plumbing project, even a minor one, it’s smart to get a sense of your plumbing system as a whole. Do some research and get a grasp of the basic concepts of plumbing, such as the function of a vent pipe, how big your drain lines should be, and how much pitch a waste pipe needs,” a Popular Mechanics article recommends.
Prevent disaster in your home. Carefully approach any DIY plumbing projects. Know exactly where to find shutoff valves and have plenty of wrenches and heavy duty hose clamps on hand.
