Top Guidelines On Doing Business With A Plumbing Professional
Top Guidelines On Doing Business With A Plumbing Professional
Blog Article
The common toilet in our home is made up of different parts. You have the ceramic toilet a toilet seat attached to it and a flush tank. Some toilets do not have a flush tank and water is passed to flush the toilet directly through a broad water pipe.
4) You will need to have on hand bathtub tape, small gas torch, solder, flux, plumbing sandpaper, pipe cutter, gas tape (to seal gas line) and maybe some pipe glue. Ask the sales person at the hardware store for a more defined list.
After you have checked these areas, take a close look around the refrigerator, both inside and outside. Is there any usual condensation that could indicate a water leak somewhere? Is the icemaker hose fastened securely to the water line repair line? Check also for any water spots on the floor, as these are typically clear signs of a water leak somewhere.
After you have the stems out you should be able to find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've already come this far. You can get replacement washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes you may want to replace the whole stem, especially if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take the stem with you to the store and see if you can match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have replacement stems for many popular brands. If your valve has a center diverter valve to switch the waterfrom the tub spout to the shower head the same process applies. Many times it is easier to replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really depends on the design of the stem.
If you do experience a broken pipe, you must act quickly to prevent further water damage to your home or business. The first thing you must do is shut off the water immediately. Know where the water shut off valve is located and make sure all members of the household are aware of its location and how to shut it off.
Here are some general cautions. Do not begin jobs on holidays, weekends, or at times when plumbers raise their rates or are difficult to reach. Do start early leaving plenty of daylight to call a plumber if something goes wrong. Study the situation carefully. Think about what might happen if something suddenly broke and what the effects would be. Old corroded copper tubing might break in the wall when you are wrenching an angle stop that supplies the water line repair to your toilet. A flood in the wall could be costly. If the angle stop, on the other hand, is new and shuts off easily and you have another toilet in the house then it might make sense to repair the toilet yourself. Be honest, too. Are you handy with tools? Did you do well in shop classes in school?
I bought a new kitchen sink from a brand name building supply company and hired a plumber to install it. After he had left and I filled up my new sink to wash my first load of dishes in it, I noticed the water level had dropped. You wouldn't want to feel my shock and imagine the angry words that came out of my mouth! I couldn't believe that I had spent $300.00 on a brand new sink that couldn't hold water!
A large plumbing job, such as re-piping or installing additional fixtures, may require a permit. Check with your city's department of building and safety before asking for estimates, and avoid any plumbers who are reluctant to comply with regulations.