Tips To Avoid Common Homeowner Plumbing Mistakes
With so many homeowners turning to online do-it-yourself videos to fix various things around the house, more and more people are trying to tackle plumbing repairs on their own as well. While this can sometimes work out well for you, there are a few things that many novices aren't aware of that may not be covered in those repair tutorials. Here are some common mistakes you'll want to avoid when doing plumbing repairs, as they may lead to further damage or repeated leaks.
Get The Right Parts
When you're new to plumbing repairs, all of the pipes are likely to look the same. You might think that it doesn't really matter which pipe, or which elbow, you buy. The fact is that you need to be sure that you're getting not only the right diameter pipe but also the right thread and the proper material. Take time to ensure that, if you're getting any metal pipes, you choose a metal that won't corrode when it's connected to other pipes.
Don't Over-Tighten The Connections
Your first thought when you're connecting pipes may be to make sure that those connections are as tight as you can possibly get them. Unfortunately, if you tighten them too much, you may actually crush the gasket or the washer that's in the connection. Since that gasket or washer is designed to help form the watertight seal inside the connection, this can lead to leaks in your pipes.
In addition, when the connections are too tight, that can spell problems for you if you have to take them apart again later. You may inadvertently do damage to the pipes trying to get them apart, which can lead to more costly repairs than you would have been facing otherwise.
Know How To Wrap Your Plumber's Tape
When putting plumber's tape on the threads of a pipe, you need to be sure that you wrap it in the right direction. You might think that it really doesn't matter how it goes on, but it does. If you wrap the tape counterclockwise around the pipe threads, you'll actually undo the tape and likely shred it when you screw the pipe to the connection. Instead, wrap the tape clockwise, and press down as you wrap to ensure that it is tight and smooth. Then, you can screw the pipe and the connector together without worry about damaging that seal.
For more help with your plumbing repairs and common mistakes, contact your local plumbing contractors today.
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