While doing the plumbing work yourself is a great way of earning manliness points, there are 1000 ways things could go awry. A rewarding do it yourself project could easily end up being a water-filled-living-room disaster. There are fun DIY projects that you can simply pick up and learn as you progress, but plumbing isn’t one of them. Unless you know how to dry a soaked coach, proceed with caution. Here are a few things you should keep in mind if you don’t want to spend the rest of your evening draining a flooded house.
- Knowing where the gate valve is
Having a basic grasp on how leaks are fixed can help save you money, especially at this time of the year when plumbing contractors in Ladysmith charge premium rates. Even though the typical water leakages are avoidable, leaking sinks come when we least expect them. Before starting any project, know where the water supply is controlled from. Different contractors follow different standards when plumbing in Ladysmith. If you’re living in a house that was recently renovated, each bathroom may have its own shutoff. The basement is a good place to start your search. Check your house plan if you’re still unable to find the valves.
- Know your house well
The secret to being a good hobbyist plumber lies in knowing your territory well. Do your homework and grasp how the different parts of the plumbing system work together. You should know the pitch of the waste pipe you’re using, what role the vent pipe plays and get an idea of how big drainage lines are. You should know where the main water shut off is, too. I guarantee you you’ll sprint there someday. The best time to investigate your house is before the basement is completed. Know which pipes pass through what walls and where the house is connected to the main drainage. If there’s one principle that plumbing contractors in Ladysmith follow when troubleshooting, it must be arming themselves with information.
- Get the right tools
You could start by acquiring a complete toolbox. Just like doing other repairs, plumbing in Ladysmith is easier with the right tools. You can’t go wrong with having more tools than those you require for a project. If you’ve ever started a minor repair and stopped midway because you had to rush to the store to get a hacksaw, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Before you embark on a project, confirm you have all the tools nearby – even the ones that you don’t need.
- Keeping vinegar and baking soda nearby
The plumbing contractors in Ladysmith won’t tell you that a generous mixture of these household products dissolves clogged matter. Baking soda is a base. Vinegar is an acid. When mixed, a reaction occurs. The carbon dioxide and water produced break up the clog and loosen up the matter. This solution is effective for unclogging toilets. They say that it’s best to get a plunger before you need one. If you don’t follow this advice, make a habit of keeping vinegar and baking soda in the house instead. They are both natural cleaning agents. Let science do the heavy lifting for you.