When your sanitary starts breaking down, a do-it-yourself repair is usually all that’s needed to make it as good as new. DIY plumbing projects might seem intimidating, but every household member should know how to do a bit of plumbing work themselves.
This can save on a pile of cash and add to one’s general knowledge. Plus, basic plumbing knowledge is a life skill, along with cooking and self-grooming. For major plumbing projects, however, it is recommended that you get in touch with professional plumbing services like Mr Green Plumbing.
As with many DIY areas, there are some general rules that must be kept in mind for sanitary repair. Some of these have been listed below:
1. Safety first:
As always, some basic common sense needs to be applied before undertaking any plumbing repair project at home. This means that care must be taken to stay away from electric wires, outlets, or appliances such as hairdryers or curling rods.
If there is a water leakage, having an electric source nearby could lead to a possibly serious electric shock. If the problem you’re fixing has occurred near electric wiring, isolate the current by throwing the circuit breaker connected to it.
In bathroom plumbing, earth bonding clamps must also be replaced if you are rerouting pipe work. When it comes to bathroom radiators, never put the wire and clamp under the floors, as they must be visible according to safety regulations.
2. Take Control:
This means that you should do your homework before venturing into the DIY plumbing game. One should know where the valves are so that you can isolate the part you’re working on. You also need to make sure that they are working properly.
Simply turning off the main supply of water is not enough. Your cold water loft tank can hold up to a hundred gallons of water, while the hot water tank can be holding up to 50. So one need to know where the taps of valves are to shut off these specific areas.
3. Consider a Service Valve:
To turn off the main water supply of a loft tank to replace a tap of cisterns, a service valve might come in handy. This could be placed in the corner of the house that is easily accessible.
4. Use a Cork:
If your do need to cut off the supply pipe from the cold water tank to fix something, and your valve is non-existent or stuck, then a large cork or rubber bung might come in handy.
You would then have to reach inside the tank and plug up the offending pipe. You could then start your work, but it is important to remember that some residual water may still be floating around in between the tank and the area you are working on. However, if the pipe is closed on both ends and no air gets inside to displace the water, you may not have to worry about the water flowing out and disrupting your work.