DIY Plumbing Tips

If you’ve got plumbing issues in your home, the best thing you can do is to hire a professional plumber. Unfortunately, not all people can do this. Perhaps you’re only experiencing a minor issue. Perhaps you want to prove to your partner that you can fix the house on your own. Perhaps you want to save as much money as possible. There are a lot of reasons why homeowners choose to do DIY plumbing.  

If you’re planning to fix your plumbing yourself, there are a couple of tips you need to follow. If you think you can’t handle these tips, you should hire plumbers in Wilmington DE for help.  

Don’t Open Drains Right Away 

Simply because you shut off the main water valve does not mean all the water is gone. Before opening any pipes or drains, you’ve got to ensure you know where leftover water will flow.  

Do Not Cut Anything 

A couple of plumbing tips say that it is fine to cut into walls, especially if you’re cautious. However, a lot of plumbers do not recommend doing this.  

To make things simple, there are a lot of risks if you cut into parts of your house. You can run into scaffolding, ductwork, wiring, or pipes. One wrong move can spell catastrophe for you and your house. It is simply not worth it. You need to hire a professional if you need to cut something in your house.  

Have the Right Protective Equipment 

If you want to have a successful DIY project, you’ve got to do it properly. This means you need to use the right protective equipment. Use safety glass to protect your eyes. You don’t want dirty water to get into your eyes. You should also use gloves to protect your hands.  

You should wear a face mask to protect your lungs. This is particularly true if you’ve got to sand or saw something. When it comes to safety, you should not cut corners. Make sure you invest in high-quality protective equipment.  

Have the Right Tools 

A DIY plumbing project is not as easy as using a wrench and a plunger. You will require various plumbing tools to do various tasks. For instance, you might need augers, spanners, towels, files, a trowel, pliers, flashlights, screwdrivers, saws, plumber’s tape, adjustable wrenches, and much more.  

In addition to that, you’ll also require different fixture-specific bolts, nuts, and other tiny components. Plumbing is a tool-heavy job.  

Know How to Shut Off the Main Water Valve 

Before you conduct your DIY plumbing project, you should know how to turn off the main water valve. If you don’t know how to find it, you might have to stop what you’re doing.  

In almost every house, the main water valve is located outside. You can always use the blueprint of your home to find where the shutoff valve is. You can also check the inspection report if you bought the house. The inspection report will include a plumbing section that lists all the valves in your home.