Essential Plumbing Maintenance: Mistakes to Avoid
There are many minor plumbing problems that homeowners can handle on their own, like a leaky pipe under a sink or a dripping faucet, for example. However, sometimes even attempting to fix a common plumbing problem can worsen and become an expensive mistake.
Keep reading to find out some common plumbing mistakes that you should avoid.
Drain cleaner overuse
Commercial drain cleaners quickly clear built-up reside or eradicate drain clogs. These products usually contain abrasive chemicals to dissolve clogs. But using these types of products in excess can cause damage to your pipework. When overused, these chemicals begin to eat into the walls of the plumbing system to damage metal and PVC pipes.
Hair, flushable wipes, flushable cat litter, and oil are examples of what end up down our drains and cause problems. Only allow water and waste to go down the drains to prevent this. If there is a blockage, consider trying natural solutions first, like baking soda and vinegar, then use a plunger to open the drain.
Reassembling a faucet incorrectly
It's not unusual to take a water faucet apart then forget how to assemble it correctly. Working out which parts go where, when everything looks similar, can become quite a challenge. If reassembled incorrectly, a faucet can be loose, cause leaks and weaken the water pressure. To avoid this problem, either take pictures or footage of the dismantling process to reference when it's time to reassemble.
Installing a crooked pipe
As a novice, it's typical to desire a speedy DIY task, but you should not sacrifice quality for speed. It's essential to ensure a pipe is cut straight. The hub portion of the fitting doesn't offer a significant margin for error. For example, if a pipe has a quarter-inch missing on it, this could be the difference between experiencing leakage or not.
Using steel supports on copper pipes
When copper comes in contact with unpainted steel, a phenomenon called dissimilar metal corrosion – better known as electrolysis – occurs and eats away at the copper pipe very slowly, causing a small leak in the long run. If you only have access to steel support, make sure to wrap the copper pipe with electrical tape, so they don't contact each other. The proper way to do this is to get supports made out of copper.
Cutting a pipe and leaving it uncapped
If you cut a horizontal or vertical pipe, don't leave it uncapped for two reasons:
You'll have sewer gases coming in, causing your home to smell like rotten eggs.
Someone could put something in the pipe. For example, a child might throw their toys down it. This can be expensive to repair.
Forgetting to turn off the water
Many homeowners either forget to turn the water off at the mains or believe they don't need to do so as the job won't take long. When it comes to plumbing DIY, strategies rarely go as planned. The quick fix might not be as straightforward as initially thought and take up more time than expected, thus raising the possibility of full force water pressure flooding and water traveling to other areas in your home.
You should always shut off the water at the main valve before commencing any plumbing project. Alternatively, turn off the shut-off valve on the fixture you're repairing.
If you need a licensed, bonded, insured plumber for your Phoenix area leak or your next plumbing project, call MNS Plumbing today at 602-362-4524.
