Hey, I’ll let you in on a few plumbing tips. If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, it could save you a small fortune. You don’t even need to be a do-it-yourselfer (DIY). Think about this, most of us know how to care for our car, but very few of us know how to fix them. The same is true for your home. Having a basic knowledge of your home’s plumbing system and an understanding of the do’s and don’ts will go a long way.
Know Where Your Pipe Are In Your Wall Before Nailing
Did you know that most of your home’s plumbing system runs through the walls? As a plumbing company, we’ve received our fair share of calls from homeowners that decided they needed to hammer a nail in the wall only to hit a water pipe. Water pipes are not inside all walls; however, they are inside walls close to kitchens and bathrooms.
Some plumbing tips and precautions:
- Pipes are not right against the drywall, and drywall is usually 5/8 of an inch thick. Use the appropriate fastener.
- If you’re hanging a picture, use the 3M command hanging strips. They won’t damage your wall, and the large strips can hold up to 16 pounds.
- Drill a very small hole in the wall and put a piece of wire through it. You can feel it if you hit a pipe or wires.
- You can use a small anchor to screw into versus a long nail.
- Use a stud finder to find a stud and go directly into the stud.
These are all ways you can avoid hitting a pipe in your wall.
Know Where Your Shut Off Valve Is Located Is Another Tip
Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you should know how to shut the water off to your home. You should know precisely where the shut-off valve is located. Knowing this could save you thousands in water damage costs. The fact is, our pipes will not last forever. At some point, you may experience a pipe leak. The sooner you can stop the water from flowing, the less water damage you will experience.
Install A Whole House Leak Detection System
Protect your home from water damage by installing a complete-home leak detection system. Most homeowners don’t know this, but water damage is 5x more likely to happen than theft and 6x more likely than fire. Flo by Moen is my recommendation. It will protect your home from the water supply side as well as the drain side. The product never sleeps, it will detect leaks in your home 24/7.
More Features:
- 24/7 Monitoring
- Automatic daily health tests
- Smartphone control
- Gives alerts & runs diagnostics
- Remote automatic shut-off
Get the peace of mind by knowing that your water usage is under control. Most leaks go undetected for weeks, months, or even years. Some insurance carriers may even give you a discount on your policy if you install a Flo by Moen.
Check Your Own Water Pressure
Homeowners, did you know that high water pressure is bad on your pipes, appliances, fixtures, and your water heater? While low water pressure is a terrible inconvenience, our home’s plumbing system is designed for the water pressure to be around 50-60 pounds per square inch (PSI) range. Anything over 80 PSI of water pressure would put undue pressure on our home’s plumbing system. Any homeowner can check their water pressure by using a water pressure gauge. You can purchase the gauge at your local home center for less than ten dollars. It screws onto your outdoor spigot just like a hose. Once fastened, turn on the water, and it will give you an accurate water pressure reading. You can adjust the pressure at the pressure reducing valve (PRV). Your PVR is attached to the incoming water pipe where the water first enters the home. If you cannot adjust the pressure, then your regulator is faulty and will need replacing.
Related Articles On Plumbing Tips:
Sudden Low Water Pressure In The Bathroom – What Could Be Wrong?