Plumbing Basics
Taking on a plumbing project can be challenging. And, it’s not always a do-it-yourself proposition. A good rule of thumb if you are considering attempting some plumbing work on your own is to make sure you know exactly what you are doing before doing anything at all. If you don’t understand the best way to perform a plumbing fix, call a professional. Otherwise, you could run the risk of facing a costly major repair instead of a cheap, quick solution.
With that being said, if you have a good set of basic tools and understand what you are dealing with, you can potentially handle plumbing problems and projects ranging from unclogging a drain to working with different types of pipes. To help you take the first steps toward plumbing self-sufficiency, we’ve offered some general advice for you to consider.
Tools of the Trade
First, you need to equip yourself with some supplies to help make sure the simple plumbing repairs stay easy to do.
- Plunger: It’s a good idea to have a large size plunger for each floor of your home. You should also have a small one on hand for clogs in your sinks.
- Plumber’s Snake: Also referred to as a “cable auger,” this is the big gun to bring into play when a plunger can’t knock out a clog. The snake consists of a thick, loosely coiled wire attached to a crank. Turning the crank helps work the wire down into the drain in order to pull out or work free whatever is causing the clog.
- Pipe Wrench: Plungers can help with sinks but tend to do their best work unclogging toilets. Another means to help battle a sink clog is a pipe wrench, which will enable you to open up the pipes under the sink and get directly at the clog.
- Smooth Jawed Wrench: This adjustable wrench works well with chrome- and brass-finished pipes and fixtures because it won’t damage their finishes. A regular adjustable wrench can be used, but you’ll need to place duct tape on the wrench’s gripping surfaces to protect the finishes of the pipes and fixtures.
There are additional tools that you might need depending on the plumbing job you’re attempting. In these instances, ask your local hardware store for guidance on choosing the right tool for the job and for successfully tackling your plumbing challenge du jour.
Know What You’re Working With
One potential plumbing pitfall can involve the pipes themselves. Homes that are less than 20 years old will have either copper or plastic pipes. Older homes, however, may use different types of pipes that might not be a kind that a do-it-yourselfer should try repairing. Here are three types of pipe that you might encounter:
- Galvanized Pipe: This kind of pipe, which consists of iron pipe treated with zinc, was the most common used in older homes. This type of pipe is usually an inch or less wide and is silver-gray in appearance. If you have this kind of pipe and it is leaking or clogged, call a professional. Problems with galvanized pipe usually are due to corrosion, which makes repair work more complicated.
- Copper Pipe: Copper pipe eventually replaced galvanized pipe for construction projects. Eventually, this type of piping was replaced as well by plastic piping, but the material still exists today in many homes around the country. Copper pipe repairs tend to be relatively easy, but there is the possibility that you may need to solder the pipe to the pipe fittings, which might be a skill best left to the professionals.
- Black Iron Pipe: This type of pipe is generally used for natural gas or propane, so avoid repairing it. Its color makes it easy to spot, but it can also be identified by its threaded fittings. This sets it apart from other pipes whose fittings are welded or soldered.
