DIY Plumbing Guide

Archive for the ‘Supplies and tools’ Category

Whether installing a plumbing system, building or making plumbing repairs in your house, you need the right plumbing tools for the job.

There are several basic tools that nearly every plumbing undertaking requires. Some are more useful than others, but they all come in handy here and there.

Plumbing Tools: The Basics

The basic tools you will need are: fixed and adjustable wrenches and basin wrenches, tubing cutters, screwdrivers of different shapes and sizes, torch kits and hacksaws. In addition to these basic tools, most plumbing jobs will require assorted augers, plungers, washers and pliers.

There are two types of regular wrenches you will need: fixed and adjustable. You will need these wrenches for just about any plumbing job, but for specific plumbing jobs, you may also need open-ended wrenches, pipe wrenches and liquid wrenches of varying sizes. It’s probably not a bad idea to stock up on all of these if you anticipate doing major plumbing work, but the usual 10″ and 12″ adjustable wrenches are fine for most household plumbing jobs.

You can use a regular hacksaw for most plumbing work, but specific tools like pipe and tubing cutters are easier to use, and make cleaner cuts. The two pipe cutters that are usually used are the plastic tubing cutter and the pipe cutter, which has a jaw that you can adjust and a sharp cutting wheel. Hacksaws are trickier to use, but one advantage is that one hacksaw can pretty much cut anything. You can cut plastic tubing or pipe of any material with a hacksaw. You should always have a variety of different sizes of screwdrivers as well. They come in handy all the time with any sort of repairs.

Getting Ready For Your Plumbing Job

Before you start working on your plumbing project, you should look at your list of plumbing tools and make sure that you have everything you need and that the tools are all in good working order. You will find that some tools get used more than others. It’s good to keep a detailed list so that you can always check it before you start. You don’t want to get halfway into a plumbing job and realize that you are missing an important tool for it. On the other hand, if there is a tool you’ve never used, it would be all right to set it aside.

Every Tool Has Its Place

Each of the plumbing tools has its own particular function and use. With everything you need in order, even tough plumbing jobs will go much more smoothly and you can confidently tackle challenging problems. Always make sure to be safe with your tools and use common sense to ensure safety.

It always feels good to start a job with the right tools within easy reach. Each plumbing tool has its own place and use in the grand scheme of everything relating to plumbing. Pretty soon you’ll have the confidence, knowledge and experience to tackle any home plumbing job!

A “plumbing snake” is a long, flexible steel coil that can be wound into curved pipes to remove things that are stuck or blocking the pipes. Also known as a “plumber’s snake,” a plumbing snake is an essential tool of the plumber’s trade.

There are different lengths, shapes and sizes of plumbing snakes. A plumbing snake usually has at its core a wire shaft with an auger-like head on the end. The snake twists and winds through the pipes with the help of a controlling mechanism of some sort.

How to Use the Plumbing Snake

You can use a plumbing snake to unclog drains, but you have to be careful while using it. You should put something on your hands or use non-slip gloves because the plumbing snake will become dirty and slippery. The plumbing snake has to be just the right size, so it is recommended that you use the smallest snake first, and move up to larger ones if it isn’t big enough to do the job.

The end of the snake must first be inserted to the pipe via the drain or toilet. As you turn the handle clockwise, it will push the snake into the pipe. You should leave some small quantity of water in the sink or toilet. The water will help the stuff to break up and lubricate the pipe when it starts to move. If it gets difficult to keep pushing the snake through, you should pull the end out, clean it off and re-insert it. You may have to do this several times until the drain is fully clear, so don’t be surprised if it keeps happening.

Plumbing Snake Safety

If you have a motorized plumbing snake, you should take special care, especially when you are pulling it back out of the drain. The motor may cause the coil to whip and toss around, and it could strike someone or something in the room when it comes out.

When the plumbing snake comes out, shake the tip of it off in the toilet bowl or the sink to clean it off. It will help to flush the toilet or open the faucets of the sink to get rid of the stuff on the tip of the snake.

An Essential Tool for Plumbing

The plumbing snake is an important tool for plumbing as it effectively helps to remove blockages deep down in the pipes. Just take a little extra care when using one.

When installing and setting up new plumbing fixtures for distributing water, disposing waste or supplying gas, selecting the correct fixtures is essential.

It is always worth it to take the time to pick out the best fixtures for the job, especially when you want to ensure sanitation in your home.

Some common plumbing fixtures include flush toilets, water closets, urinals, bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, showers, bathtubs and vanity or pedestal sinks. In addition, you must also consider the plumbing brassware: the regulators, ventilation apparatus, plumbing valves, water valves, plumbing traps and wastes, hard water treatment products and fuel oil products. Most good plumbing fixtures come with a warranty of ten years and up.

Overview of Plumbing Fixtures

A flush toilet disposes waste down a drain pipe using water flow. The drain pipe curves and acts as a trap, preventing sewage gases and odors from leaving the toilet and entering the bathroom.

Urinals are designed purely for urination and use less water than a regular flush toilet. Urinals are equipped with a plastic or metal mesh guard in order to prevent solid objects from clogging the drain pipes.

Just like flush toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks have a drain pipe bent to a curve in order to hold water and act as a trap to keep the sewage gas and bad odor inside the pipe, and not in the bathroom or kitchen.

High class vanity/pedestal sinks in bathrooms must have the rims sealed dry with caulk or putty when installed. Showers and bathtubs must be caulked in the same manner. Bathtubs filled with water weigh a great deal, so it is sometimes necessary to provide extra bracing after installing a bathtub. The tub must also be leveled and dry fitted, and the drain connections lined up to prevent leakage and water damage.

Checking Plumbing Fixture Quality

You should always purchase the highest quality plumbing fixtures that you can afford to ensure the best operation of your home plumbing system. The quality of the fixtures can make or break your home plumbing system’s performance, and higher quality fixtures reduce the chance of expensive leaks and malfunctions. As always, be sure to hire a qualified, diligent plumber to verify that your plumbing fixtures are working optimally. Reducing the chance of frequent plumbing problems should always be your primary goal.