5 Useful Plumbing Tips and Tricks Everyone Should Know

Plumbing is one of those areas or systems in a home that are really crucial. Simple plumbing problems such as leaky faucets, or frozen pies, just to name a few, can turn out to be a catastrophe if they’re not addressed on time. While hiring an expert plumber is the most recommendable choice when you have issues with your plumbing, there are certain fixes that you can do yourself with a little knowledge about the art. But make no mistake about it, some plumbing tasks can be overly intimidating and frustrating when done DIY.

If you’re based in an area such as North York, Toronto, you would want to work with the best North York Plumbing expert available in and around the area, especially for plumbing emergencies, installations, and major repairs. But it goes without saying, that a professional may come plumber comes at a high cost, at least more often than not. Nonetheless, having some hacks and tricks can save you a huge sum of money.

This having been said, here are 5 useful plumbing tips and tricks everyone should know.

1. Using thread tape

Whenever the term plumbing is mentioned… wait for it… thread tape will always appear in some sentences down the paragraph. In this case, let’s start with it. It’s the most common item used when taking care of leaking pipes. The idea of replacing an entire pipe just because of some few worn out threads is unrealistic. But that roll of thread tape will help avoid the mess, use of additional tools, and the flooring that comes with dope, given the fact that dope is a bit messy. Let take a look at how to use thread tape.

Invest in a thicker thread tape, but having a thinner one may come in handy in the future.

Only use thread tape on pipe threads and not on compression fittings.

Always ensure to wrap the tape 3 times on the threads.

Always wrap the tape in a clockwise motion to prevent unraveling when screwing the joints into place.

2. Fixing a clogged drain

Clogged drains are always a pain in the neck. Even the thought of doing it yourself is a messy business. To fix one, you’ll need one or two types of equipment. For starters, you’ll need a flexible shaft pick-up tool and if you don’t have one, Zip-it can also do the job. You can also use your wet/dry vacuum to unclog the drains, but it’s always important that if you use one, ensure that you understand the proper uses of drain snakes. This will help avoid damaging your pipes.

3. Stuck pipes?

Your plumbers may have initially used pipe dope when sealing the piping around your house, so now, these threaded connections don’t wanna budge no matter how hard you do it. Here’s how to fix them.

Try to apply moderate heat on the connections, preferably using a blow torch. One thing though, use a blow torch on metallic connections and not on plastic fittings. This may take a couple of minutes before you can unscrew it with ease. You’ll always want to get it hot enough, additionally, ensure that you protect the surrounding areas from the flame using a heat resistant cloth.

Note: Only use this technique on water and waste pipings and Never on gas and fuel lines!

4. Use new supply lines

We are all hard-pressed by the hard economic situations. However, this is no reason to reuse the existing supply lines, as it could, in the long run, cost you more. In most instances, these lines are made of plastic, and we know that over time plastic tends to be fragile and degraded. Reusing them can cause heavy leaks that could potentially lead to water damage on your property. Whenever possible, replace the existing ones with new stainless steel fittings. They are durable and will less likely burst or leak.

5. Update your catalogue

The modern day plumber no longer uses the plumber’s putty. Instead, invest in silicone caulk for the job. The best thing about this is the fact that it’s more durable, doesn’t stain your plumbing, and thus won’t contaminate your water.

These simple hacks will help save you a lot of money and time. There are dozens more of them online. However, always ensure you work with an expert for the more difficult tasks such as emergencies, installations, and major repairs.