Don't be a Clown in Real Life! Avoid These DIY Plumbing Projects
Outside of the circus, October is the time of the year when clowns become more prevalent. Halloween brings with it clowns of both the spooky and funny variety, leaving those with phobias terrified to leave their homes.
However, there is nothing funny about accidentally looking like a clown when attempting DIY plumbing. Avoiding the most common DIY plumbing mistakes will help you choose a different costume this Halloween, one that makes you look like a hero!
The Downfalls of Drain Cleaners
One of the most common DIY plumbing misconceptions is that drain cleaners are a homeowner’s friend. While that may be true initially, long term use of drain cleaners can actually cause plumbing issues down the line.Before running to the grocery store to purchase one over the counter, contact a plumber to have your clog evaluated. It may need more intensive work, and adding drain cleaner may add to the problem instead of solving it.
Over time, drain cleaners can actually eat away at metal pipes and rubber gaskets, causing corrosion and eventual leaks and expensive plumbing repairs.
Watch Out For Over Tightened Bolts
While installing DIY plumbing, many homeowners make the mistake of over-tightening their bolts. While it may be tempting to make them as tight as possible, this can actually do damage to the entire valve system over time. With too much pressure, the plastic washers can wear aware. This leaves the water barriers open, which can cause brand new leaks to occur.
The issue with this type of DIY plumbing mistake is that the damage may not be immediately evident, as the cracks and leaks occur slowly over time with the increase in stress and pressure to the pipes.
In a worst-case scenario, over-tightening the bolts on a toilet can eventually damage the porcelain and ruin the entire toilet. While doing DIY plumbing, homeowners should make sure they only tighten bolts until they stop and not past that.
How to Use Plumbing Tape Correctly
Plumbers' tape can be a homeowner’s best friend. It’s one of the DIY plumbing tools that actually does what it claims to do. However, without the right knowledge, plumbing tape can be used wrong and cause issues. The first, most important information to know is what type of plumbing tape to use.Homeowners should look for Teflon tape from a home improvement store. It can be used to help to seal tapered thread joints in the home’s plumbing system and is sold in a variety of different thicknesses and colors, with the most common being 0.003 inches and white.
Plumbing tape should always be wrapped clockwise around the joints, otherwise, it actually loosens the joints while being wrapped instead of helping to keep them tight and leak-free. When used correctly, it is one of the best products for DIY plumbing at a homeowner’s disposal.
A Local Plumbing Company Can Help
RupCoe Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, located in South Plainfield, New Jersey, has been serving the plumbing and HVAC needs of the community since 1985. Their team of licensed, insured professionals prides themselves on their clean uniforms and quick, accurate, honest work.
