DIY plumbing: Can you do it?
A rewarding feeling comes with being able to do something which doesn’t require a professional to do the job. It’s even more rewarding if you learn something once and remember exactly how to do it again after a while.
When it comes to sorting out your own plumbing work, you need to be extra careful. It’s not simply about fixing your leaking faucet or replacing your toilet. DIY plumbing is possible and can save you a ton of money. It can minimise the chaos that could have unfolded if you ignore the problem for too long.
Before getting started
Even a minor project will require you to at least have a little bit of knowledge about the logistics of a plumbing system as a whole. Do your research and figure out the basic concepts of plumbing. You ought to know about the function of a vent pipe, how big your drain lines should be and how much pitch a waste pipe requires.
Sweating a copper pipe
It sounds scarier than what it actually is and you might be asking yourself, “How do you sweat a pipe?”. All you need to do is to head over to your local hardware store and purchase solder, flux, a small torch and a few pieces of copper pipe. Start by cleaning the copper, add the flux, heat the join and then lastly apply the solder. Do this carefully as a burst pipe could mean ruined bathroom sets. You may want to call in a plumber to pipe your entire house, but knowing how to do it is a good skill to have when you need minor fixes and adding valves.
Have a look at your toolbox
Having more tools than you’ll probably need is a good way to start any project. Any plumbing project requires a full set of plumbing tools. Imagine getting halfway through the process of plumbing when you realise you need a tool you don’t have in your toolbox. Going all the way to the hardware store for a hacksaw may be something you would wish to avoid.
The most important part of all
Know where all the shutoffs are. Before taking on any plumbing project you need to know where the shutoffs are and what they control. Certain systems have a shutoff in each area of the room where plumbing is linked. Some may even be hidden behind access panels. A simple way to test which valve controls are linked to a certain faucet, is to simply turn off your main shutoffs and start turning on your faucets and flushing your toilets.