Do you have a dripping faucet or low water pressure? Or a clogged pipe? It’s easy to feel tempted by a professional plumber. Most homeowners don’t have the skills to do a DIY job in plumbing. This can lead to personal and financial damage of thousands of dollars. Alpha Tradesmen Academy https://alphatradesmenacademy.com/plumbing/online-trade-school/ offers training online for tradespeople with any level of experience. Our program is different from other online trade schools in that it combines online lessons with practical experience in the field to offer a comprehensive technical education. Apprentices are encouraged to work alongside more experienced technicians through our method. The apprentices are able to earn money and gain experience while learning on their own with Alpha Tradesmen Academy’s 24/7 Online Access to lessons, quizzes and exams. Don’t forget to dial your plumber! These are some plumbing tips every homeowner should know. These tips could help you save money on a visit to your local plumber.
Find out the location of shut-off valves
Note the location of the main shutoff valve and drain before you move into a new house. In some cases the shutoff may be outside the home. In case of periodic cleanings, you should be familiar with the sewer line access points. You should note that condos and apartments may not have their own shut-off valves.
Garbage is not to be thrown down the drain
Do not dump food scraps, coffee grounds, bacon grease, vegetable peelings or starchy foods such as potatoes or rice down your kitchen sink. They will almost certainly block your pipes. To know the exact capabilities of your garbage disposal, it is a smart idea to consult the manual.
Take the plunge
To clear drain clogs and toilet clogs, invest in a quality plunger. To remove sink traps, you can use a plunger. This will make the task much easier and less messy.
Get the vacuum!
A wet-dry vacuum is the best tool to use to remove a clog from a small, hard object such as a toothbrush, child’s toy or comb. It is more efficient to suction the object out. The object will be more difficult to get out if it is pushed further into the drain.
Leaks are not to be ignored
Money is going down the drain when a fixture drips and drips. A leaky faucet can actually waste up to 8 gallons of water each day. While a running toilet may waste 200 gallons every day, Small leaks should be fixed immediately to avoid costly and expensive problems.
Never Over-Tighten Fittings
Over-tightening connections and fittings is a common mistake in DIY plumbing. This can lead to broken bolts or stripped screws. Keep in mind the old saying, “hand-tight is just fine.”
Plumber’s tape makes friends
To prevent leaks around fittings and joints, plumber’s tape (also known as Teflon) is used to seal the threads of pipes. Before sealing, wrap plumber’s tap three times around pipe threads. You should also note that white tape can be used for household plumbing projects while yellow tape is used for gas line connections.
