Plumbing Tips 101

There are a lot of reasons that you might be in need of a plumber. Leaky faucets, clogged drains, and much more… issues with your plumbing can be a daunting task. While it would certainly be easy to pick up the phone and summon the first handyman that pops up on google, let’s take a moment to review some plumbing tips that everyone can benefit from.

A crucial part of moving into a new home is to know the exact location of the main shut-off valve and drain. Knowing this before you move in should be on the top of your priority list. The valve can be found outside of some houses, so make it a point to find out beforehand. Getting familiar with sewer line access points should also be on your list, as this is useful during the occasional clean out.

Hanging a picture frame with a simple nail and hammer might sound harmless, but there are other factors to consider. Before doing any renovations to walls, ceilings, or floors, find out if there are any supply or drainage pipes in that specific area. Using stud finders are a relatively inexpensive method to discover where pipes are behind the walls. A stud finder is an electronic sensing tool that detects metal or wood behind sheetrock. If you can invest in an endoscopic camera, it can be snaked into walls for optimum viewing.

There are plungers available at just about every applicable store, but investing in a quality plunger will save you time and energy when a clog occurs. Toilets, sinks, and drains can get backed up with repeated use or accumulation of substances, so knowing when it’s time to unclog is a quick solve. For hard objects that don’t dissolve, a wet-dry vacuum is the way to go. It will be more effective in sucking out the object, whereas a plunger (mainly used for drains and toilets) would push it deeper into the drain.

This goes for a lot of items that need to be tightened – be cautious that you never over-tighten. It’s a common mistake that can lead to bigger issues than the original situation called for. When fittings and connections are over-tightened, it can lead to stripped screws and broken bolts. Once a screw is stripped, it become ineffective.

With these tips in mind, you can continue to add bits of information to your plumbing knowledge library. If you have concerns that you would like professional advice on, we always recommend asking a plumber to verify what the right steps are. At Graydon Faulstick Plumbing, we are prepared to assist you in your plumbing needs. For assistance, you can reach us at 570-992-0447 or 610-381-4171 for more information.