Every homeowner, at some point, has to deal with plumbing and other maintenance problems like rubble removal or even a tree that has to be cut down. This will most likely lead to calling in the professionals such as Plumbers Midrand or Centurion plumbers,  Rubble removal Centurion, Rubble removal Pretoria or Tree felling Pretoria, and not without reason. Many homeowners don’t have the skills or necessary tools to do a DIY job, which means a simple problem can turn into a huge catastrophe. To make it a bit easier for you – here are 10 tips if you want to deal with a plumbing problem yourself.

Know where the shut-off valves are located

Note the location of the shut-off valves. You must get acquainted with the sewer line access points; should you need to conduct periodic clean outs. Flats and townhouses may not have own shut-off valves. Shut-off valves can be located outside the house.

Never puncture a pipe

It is easy to accidently puncture a pipe when drilling or pounding a nail into the wall. Use an inexpensive studfinder or endoscopic camera to locate pipes behind walls.

Find out what is flushable and what not.

Toilets should never be used as a trash can because the flushing of anything except toilet paper can lead to nasty clogs

Don’t throw garbage down the drain

The dumping of left-over food, grease or oil from food,  offee grounds, vegetable peelings and starchy foods like potatoes and rice down the kitchen drain will almost certainly clog the pipes.

Buy a Plunger

Buy a good quality plunger to clear the clogs in toilets, drains and sinks, When using a plunger, you can push most of the water out, making it easier to remove the trap.

Pull out the vacuum

When you are trying to dislodge a clog caused by a hard, small object, it is easier to use a wet-dry vacuum to suck the object out. A plunger will only push it deeper into the drain and make a bad situation worse.

Don’t ignore leaks

A leaky faucet can waste up to thirty litres of water in a day.  When you notice a small leak, fix it  immediately before it becomes a big and costly problem.

Do not over-tighten fittings

Over-tightening of fittings and connections is a common DIY plumbing mistake.  It only leads to broken bolts & stripped screws.  only hand tighten it.

Plumber’s tape is your best friend

Plumber’s tape (also known as Teflon tape) is used to seal pipe threads. Do this to prevent leaks around joints and fittings. You should typically wrap plumber’s tape three times around pipe threads before sealing it.  Also note that white tape is designed for common household plumbing projects, and yellow tape is for gas line connections.

Always check for any leaks

After every plumbing project check for any  leaks – by running water through the system and then opening and closing all the valves and drains. Even a professional plumber can miss a small leak and need to reseal the connection.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee / Africa InTouch News
Submitted by: MyPR