When you install or replace plumbing in your house, there are a few things that may get overlooked. From not marking the location of the water shutoff to forgetting to re-tie supply lines after they’ve been cut, there are many things that could go wrong if not done correctly in the initial install. Luckily, these are easy things to fix (or at least most of them are). We’ve put together this list of common mistakes new home owners make when installing plumbing. If you plan on renovating your home, or if you’re doing a large-scale plumbing project, it’s best to hire a professional plumber to do the work for you. You don’t want to take the chance of cutting a line and not knowing how serious it actually is. However, if you’re doing a smaller project like replacing a sink or toilet, you can do it yourself. Here are some basic tips for making your plumbing project go as smoothly as possible.
One of the most important things to remember when installing plumbing is to mark the location of the water shutoff. This will come in handy if the pipes ever freeze, or if you ever have an emergency and need to turn off the water supply quickly. If you don’t mark the location of the water shutoff, you could end up turning off the wrong valve and having to spend hours re-setting everything. It’s also a good idea to mark the location of the gas shutoff as well. If a leak ever occurs, you’ll want to turn off both the water and gas supplies. If you don’t mark the location of the water and gas shutoffs, you’ll have to go hunting for them. This can be a serious headache if you have a large project with lots of pipes.
This is a big one. A lot of people don’t think about re-tying the supply lines after they’ve been cut. However, it’s crucial to do this before you re-install the pipes. If you don’t re-tie the supply lines, the pipes will eventually wear through and leak. If you re-tie the supply lines, you can patch in just a few minutes and avoid a huge mess. If you don’t want to re-tie the supply lines, you can always use duct tape to cover the hole until you can get around to re-tying it. Duct tape is great for quick fixes like this, but it’s not ideal for long-term use.
Water pipes can get pretty cold, especially in places like Canada and Alaska. If you don’t insulate the pipes, they can freeze and crack. If the pipes freeze, you’ll either have to dig them out or pay a plumber to break them and replace them. If the pipes crack, you’ll have a nasty mess on your hands. To prevent this, you’ll want to insulate the pipes. This can be done by covering the pipes with some cloth or burlap, or you can use insulation spray. If you use burlap, make sure to leave a small hole in the bottom so you can keep an eye on the water level.
If you’re renovating an older home, you’re almost guaranteed to find a build-up of sludge and grime in your pipes. This is especially true in places like basements, crawl spaces, and even crawl-in plumbing. If you don’t clean out your pipes, they’ll eventually clog up and cause a ton of damage. It’s best to get a professional cleaning every few years to avoid this problem. If you don’t clean out your pipes, you could end up with a really nasty clog. That’s why it’s important to know where your drains are and how to access them. You can find most of your pipes in the basement and crawl spaces, but you’ll also find them in the attic, walls, and other random places. If you don’t know how to clean out your pipes, you can always hire a plumber to do it for you.
If you want to avoid a clogged kitchen sink, you should add traps and strainers to your plumbing. Traps and strainers are basically small basins that trap small particles and prevent them from clogging up your pipes. It’s important to add traps and strainers to your plumbing even if you don’t have small children in the house. Clogs will occur over time no matter what, so it’s best to prepare for them. If you’re moving a sink, toilet, or another plumbing fixture, you’ll also want to add traps and strainers to prevent pipes from being clogged. If you don’t add traps and strainers, you could end up with a clogged toilet or a backed-up kitchen sink.
Now that you know the most common mistakes new home owners make when installing plumbing, you can avoid them by following these tips. This isn’t a difficult process, but it does require a little bit of planning before you start. If you’re renovating a home and want to avoid these common mistakes, it’s best to hire a professional plumber to help you out. If you’re doing a smaller project, like replacing a sink or toilet, you can do it yourself. Keep these tips in mind when installing plumbing in your house.