Plumbing DIY, Replacing Taps

Plumbing is an aspect of home improvement that often comes about without choice. It is important to take care of the plumbing of your property in order to avoid emergency situations and to ensure that you are getting the best from your plumbing system.

When it comes to replacing taps it can often be more complex than you may realise at first. Replacing taps can either be required as part of the installation of a new bath/basin or because your old taps have worn down. You may, however, just wish to replace your taps simply on a more cosmetic basis.

It is important to understand how many 'holes' your sink has when it comes to changing your taps. The amount of holes will determine whether you can install two separate taps or whether you will have just the one serving both your hot and cold needs. If there is one hole you are restricted to the one tap and you will require a mono-bloc mixer when it comes to replacing your taps. With one hole you will have two diameter pipes coming out of the hole, one for hot and one for cold. It there are, however, two holes you are able to fit two separate taps to your sink, giving you a tap for hot water and a tap for cold water.

Ok now you have some basics about what to look for in your pipe work we can move onto the removal of your old taps. The first thing you need to ensure you do is to disconnect the water supply and then turn your taps on fully to drain any water left in your system. The way in which you cut off your water supply depends on what sort of water supply you are dealing with. If connected to the mains you should turn off your indoor stop valve. If your hot and cold taps feed off pipes from a cistern you should have a gate valve/mini stopcock available to turn off. The stop valve can be found alongside the cold water tank.

You should then use a wrench (crowsfoot spanner) or a tap tool to undo the nut, which connects the supply pipes to the taps. You will probably experience some water coming from the pipes at this point so ensure that you have a cloth ready then loosen the nut that is holding the taps in place and remove them from the sink. You then need to clean the area the taps fit into as well as replace any old sealing compound.

Before you go ahead and fit your new taps you need to compare the pipe connections on the old taps to the new taps. If they are longer then you will need a shank adapter in order to make them fit.

When it comes to actually fitting your new taps you have to check to see if the tails of the new taps are plastic. If not a connector is required to prevent damage. One end of the connector fits onto the tail and the other provides a connection to existing pipes. To fit the taps you should position the tap in the mounting hole in the basin, ensuring that the washers are in place between the tap and the sink and when the tap is securely in place the supply pipes can be connected.

When your taps are firmly in place and have been securely connected to the pipes you can then turn your water supply back on. Once your water is on you should check for any leaks; if any appear they can normally be resolved by tightening your joins.

Tips For Bathroom Plumbing

To begin, it is important to note that in some states, laws are in place which prohibits home owners from engaging in their own bathroom plumbing. Check with your local municipality to make sure there aren't any restrictions against this practice in the area were you reside.

In any plumbing job, safety is the key. Be sure to disconnect the electrical source by turning off the power to a fuse or breaker box. Wear goggles, headgear, and gloves. Tools have insulated handles so hold them by the handles to reduce injury or electrical shock. Likewise, rubber-soled shoes should be worn at all times.

Though no job is the same it is important to have a few basic tools. Below are a few of the most commonly used.

1. Pipe Wrenches - You'll need an 18-inch, 14-inch, and 10-inch.
2. Basic Wrenches - In order to make gripping faucet attachments easier be sure to pick up a few with swivel jaws and long handles.
3.Tubing Cutters - Get yourself a standard-sized model as well as a mini in order to ensure you'll be able to cut through pipes even in tighter spaces.
4. Plunger - One with a heavy rubber head and good suction.
5. Level - To ensure pipes are level.
6. Torch - In case you need to solder pipes. A low cost simple torch should usually do the trick.
7. Drill - You'll always find a use.
8. Magnet - To help remove metal objects from clogged drains.
9. Cola is useful for removing rust.
10.Wire Brush - Helps remove debris prior to soldering pipes.

Aside from clogged sinks and toilets, one of the biggest bathroom plumbing problems are frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can damage your home by bursting and effectively flooding your home in minutes. Be sure to regularly inspect all outdoor pipes as well as those under sinks and in unheated crawl spaces. Preventing this problem is fairly simple and consists of covering the pips with foam rubber or insulation and securing the job with tape. If you've found a pipe to have already frozen, make sure to open the faucet prior to thawing in order to allow the blockage to move out through the pipes.

While many jobs can be accomplished with little more than common sense, there will always be those that will ultimately require an experienced professional. Don't hesitate to ask for help as it just may end up saving you a more costly repair down the road.

Master Plumber Shares Water Leak Secrets With Everyone

I wouldn't consider myself to be a master plumber, but I'm going to share with you, some of the information that I've learned from a few master plumbers over the years. These guys are the true pros of the industry and rarely share any of their secrets with anyone, but I got them to tell me some of their trade secrets with me.

I'm not going to tell you how I got these secrets from them, but it did involve some alcohol and a couple of sandwiches. Very few master tradesmen share their secrets with anyone that they don't trust or respect. Working in the construction industry for over three decades has gained me the respect from more than one master plumber.

Okay here's the secret that you've all been waiting for," Hand tighten everything." Now wait a minute, that's it, isn't there anything else. That's the master plumbing secret that we've been waiting for, to hands tightened everything, come on there's got to be more.

Well there is more, but that's going to be in another article, somewhere else in the future. If you're serious about eliminating water leaks from your plumbing drains and water supply lines, you should hand tighten everything and then check for leaks.

I can't tell you how many times I grabbed a pair of channel locks or a pipe wrench to tighten a sink drain or toilet supply line, only to find out that I had applied too much pressure and now water is leaking all over the place.

Master plumbers and other master tradesmen rarely share secrets, but this one is easy to grasp. The value of this secret is priceless. The next time that you have a water leak or are assembling any plumbing products, don't over tighten any plumbing parts and it won't be long, before you are the master plumber in your house.

Planting On Your Septic System Drainfield Or Leachfield

Thinking about planting on your drain field or leach field? Many varieties of plants assist your septic drain system in functioning at optimal capacity by continually removing water and organics found in the soils that encompass your field. A lush bed of grass also assists in keeping the entire structure from eroding and plants work the same way. Large drain fields can be somewhat of an eyesore and many homeowners have learned to use that natural landscape as a perfect setting for a landscape masterpiece. No matter what your situation is, there are many options and solutions for beatifying your drain field or leach field and most will hardly dent your budget.

As a rule of thumb, look to add shallow rooted plants and shrubs when designing your drain field landscape. Some species of herbaceous plants have minimal root depth and only require a moderate water supply to flourish. Most drain fields and leach have perforated piping that run anywhere from 6 to 46 inches below the surface and heavy thick roots from the wrong type of flora can greatly inhibit or degrade the systems performance. Always consult an expert of what plants and shrubs might work best for your situation and do a little research before taking the plunge since digging up freshly planted shrubbery is not on the agenda.

Some plant recommendations might be shallow-rooted plants such as flowering perennials and annuals, turf grass, and other short root additions most often will not damage the lines and their root system is usually contained within a few inches of the base stem or trunk. When working with your drain field or leach field, remember to proceed with caution and carefully move the soil as you prepare for the additional shrubbery. Small trees and medium to large shrubs are possibly not the best choice for your drain field being their root systems might wander too deep and therefore interrupt the function of your field through root damage, soil shifting and excessive water absorption.

Keep trees to a minimum and stick to varieties that truly have a very shallow root system and the same applies to shrubs. I you do have a requirement in your design to add trees or heavy shrubs to the drain field or leach field system, attempt to place the flora outside of the drain field perimeter thereby allowing the root system to develop and thicken outside of your systems footprint. If you currently have deep rooted shrubs or trees near your drain field, you may want to consider relocating them to another are of your yard or removing them al together.

The cost of a new drain field can run into the tens of thousands of dollars range and can be a heavy hit to any ones budget when an unexpected collapse or shutdown occurs. Large trees should be kept at least 30 feet from your drain field system and regular checks for root invasion are an excellent precaution to avoid problems. Root blockades and barriers are also an advanced method of allowing specific varieties to be planted nearer the drain field than normally would be suggested.

Consider the following as a "near drain field" shrubbery when making your choices;

o Carpet Bugle

o Dogwood Hemlock

o Sourwood Crape myrtle

o Japanese Spurge

o Blue-silver fescue

o Periwinkle

o Sword Fern

o Irish Moss

o Blue Star Creeper

o Vaccinium

o Creeping Rubus

o Kinnikinnick

o Blue oat grass

o Vaccinium

o Flowering cherry Crabapple

o Black gum Goldenrain tree and the list goes on and on.

Keep in mind that your drain field and septic system are "alive" and need proper care to function at peak performance. Always think ahead before altering your leach field landscape and plan for the future when adding any flora to your yard and surrounding areas.

Plumbing Pipes For Potable Water

There are many varieties of plumbing pipes available in the market. While going in for a kitchen remodeling project or building a new home you will have to choose which material would be best for you. A brief look at the most popular pipes:

Copper: pipes are very popular and are used for drain, vent and potable water supply. It is durable, easy and flexible to install, safer in natural disasters, resistant to intense weather and microbes and competitively priced. For many years contractors have preferred copper plumbing for its dependability and solid value. Homeowners also prefer copper plumbing because it generally increases the resale value of homes. It also ensures a clean, safe water supply. Lead has been removed from the manufacturing process so it no longer poses a health risk unlike with galvanized pipes

CPVC pipe (Polyvinyl chloride) is a rigid plastic pipe that is put together with solvent joints. They are perfect for areas of the country that have aggressive water that eats away at copper pipes. This aggressive water can sometimes eat through copper pipe within eight years. CPVC is unaffected by aggressive water, and its smooth inner surface won't collect mineral deposits. Though these pipes have many advantages they suffer from one major drawback. In case of fire or electric spark they omit poisonous gases. If this is an issue with you or your kitchen does not have a good exit point stick to copper.

PEX Pipe: is the newest entrant in the plumbing scenario. It is a flexible plastic pipe than can be installed much like electrical wiring. Suitable for use with both hot and cold water they can be used in conjunction with steel, copper, PVC and CPVC plumbing pipe. They are also highly resistant to bursting.

Plumbing Alternatives - How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

You just finished using the toilet, flushed, and suddenly you're in the midst of a plumbing disaster. Your eyes go wide and you start to panic as you see the water rising towards the brim of the toilet and there's nothing you can do. We've all been there before, and sometimes it even happens at someone else's house. Although you might not be able to fix the embarrassment, you can certainly fix a small plumbing problem such as a clogged toilet. Most people think the solution is sticking in a plunger. While that can work, you need to use the proper technique. There are also some other ways methods and ideas you can use to make the job easier.

If you notice the water level rising alarmingly fast, and you still have your wits about you, the first thing you should do is turn off the water. There's normally a small knob behind the toilet towards the base. Turn it tight to shut off the flow and prevent a potential flood. If it looks like there won't be an overflow, whatever you do, do not flush it again. There is always the temptation, especially if the water manages to drain itself out, but a second flush will greatly increase your plumbing woes.

If you can, allow as much water as you can to drain out of the bowl. If it doesn't appear to be draining or is taking a long time, you can slap on some gloves and a brave face and remove some of the excess water with an old cup or coffee can. You'll want most of the water to be emptied from the bowl before attempting to unclog the blockage. Pick up any rugs or towels off the floor to prevent them from getting wet or soiled. If possible, cover the floor in something absorbent to catch any stray drops, such as newspaper or old rags.

The most common reaction of people is to rely on the plunger to solve all of their plumbing issues. Before you reach for it, there is an easier solution. Grab some dish soap and squirt a good amount straight into the toilet. Chase the soap down with some hot water, but make sure it isn't boiling as you could crack the bowl. After five minutes or so the water level should start going down as the clog dissolves. If the bowl is nearly empty, you can give it a flush, but be cautious because if you failed to break up the clog you might get an overflow.

If soap and water doesn't work, another great method is using a wire coat hanger. All you have to do is unravel it and straighten out as best as you can. Insert the coat hanger into the pipe and gently push any obstruction you come across. You might have to twist it a bit to hit the right spot. This is sort of a plumbing bargain version of the snake tool that professionals use, but you'll save a bit of cash.

What to Look For When Choosing a Plumbing Contractor

Choosing a plumbing contractor to service your home's needs is one of the most important house-related decisions a homeowner will ever make. After all, you depend on healthy pipes each and every day to bring you water for showers, baths, laundry, dishwashing, drinking, keeping your yard green, washing the dog, and a host of other jobs we take for granted! Like any service industry, there are fantastic professionals and some not-so-fantastic contractors. Here's what to look for when choosing a plumbing contractor you can trust.

Licensed and Insured

The last thing you want to have happen is waste your money on a fly-by-night plumbing service that does terrible work, doesn't finish the job, or worse: disappears altogether. Request proof of licensing with the state from any plumber before you sign any sort of agreement. In addition, you want to be sure that all technicians who work in your home carry their own liability insurance policies, for your own protection.

Years of Experience

The longer a plumbing contractor has been serving a community, the better. Plumbing is a very competitive field, and those who don't make the grade simply will not be in business very long. Only highly-trained and certified technicians should be allowed to set foot in your home: your plumbing is simply too important to leave to chance.

Ready When You Need Them Most

Your plumbing contractor should respect your time by offering flexible scheduling options and then coming when promised. Look for a plumbing contractor that offers 24/7/365 service, who will be able to serve you both in emergency and non-emergency situations.

There are some real differences between plumbing professionals: take the time to choose wisely.