Simple DIY Plumbing Tips Every Plumber Wish You Knew

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and for some reason the kitchen pipe that was working perfectly a few hours ago suddenly out of the blue started to drip. You stop and think well I have alternatives: I pretend nothing is wrong and go back to sleep or pick up my tools and get to work. If you know absolutely nothing about what the world of plumbing entails then you will chose the first thought because you know that finding a plumber in Toronto in the middle of the night is a one in a million possibility, or if one even considers your case an emergency the money you will have to pay him or her will dig a real hole in your pocket.

The simple case above is just an illustration of just what is possible when it comes to being prepared and knowing how things work in your house. While most plumbers will love the idea of having their agendas filled with 'trivial' issues, there are many things that homeowners should know to avoid having to call one. What then are the simple things that you can learn in the world of plumbing to save on your plumbing bill and take care of any given situation until professional help gets on the way.

Leaking Faucets

Leaking faucets are common plumbing issues that many people call a Toronto plumber to fix. While faucets will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer there are still a few on the market that are simple enough to be fixed by the DIYer. The basic steps to consider when fixing your faucets are:

• Ensure that the water outlet is fully covered by a piece of clothe or any other object that will prevent the screws and pieces from entering the holes. Also turn off all the water pipes that lead to the faucet before you start to work.

• Come to a conclusion regarding the cause of the leak by opening it to identify the problem. Faucets usually leak due to worn gaskets and O-rings that have lost their resistance due to corrosion and use. Remember to take note of how you unscrewed everything so that you remember what piece goes where.

• Take the broken or worn piece with you to a hardware store and ask for the same size and configuration. If it helps, you can also tell the clerk the model and manufacturer of the faucet that you would like a piece to replace.

• Install the piece that you bought and screw up everything.

• Check to see if the leaking is still present.
  

Clogged Toilets

Toilets can get clogged for just about any reason: children throw toys in them or something else falls in to block the passage of water. This is not the typical plumbing problem that any homeowner takes great pride in calling a plumber in Toronto to fix and as such, all effort should be made to fix it personally before ringing up one. The most effective ways to unclog a toilet are:

• Using a plunger over the entrance of the hole located in the inner bowl and applying force until the obstacle either goes down or comes up.
• If that does not work you may throw hot water in it and let it set for a few hours. After this try to use the plunger to see if you can get the obstacle removed.

There are a lot of suggestions about using chemicals to unclog toilets, but ensure that these chemicals are in no way compromising the environment. Remember that when you throw anything in your toilet, it does not just solve the problem and then go away: it remains in the sewer system and if you are using a very hazardous chemical you run the risk of causing great harm to the treatment process that sewage undergoes.

Why Plumbers Recommend Waterproofing Your Bathroom

A beautiful bathroom can be transformed into a living headache if it is not waterproofed to prevent a series of complications and embarrassments form happening. Some people forget this simple step and find that they are either being sued for damages to other properties or standing before a judge regarding the building code requirements they broke. All well- intentioned plumbers know that any bathroom that is not waterproofed will sooner or later be an extra weight to any building bill and would never suggest that any homeowner skip this part, especially when they are not living on the fist floor.

Waterproofing is a simple task for the right professional. Some people try to do it themselves and discover that is is more than just applying a membrane between wall and tiles or any other construction material within the bathroom. When it is properly done then homeowners do not have a worry about mold appearing in their dry wall, grout losing its colors, water entering the next door neighbor's rooms ( for apartments), damaged carpets, rotting wooden surfaces and a whole list of other problems that lack of waterproofing a certain area can cause. Building requirements will change from province to province, so if you are planning on remodeling your bathroom take the time to verify if waterproofing is part of the building code in your area. Many renovations will need a certificate to certify that they have been made in accordance to the relevant building requirements and if you are planning on selling your house in a few years time, then you can have serious problems if you do not have the certificate.

In addition to complying with certain rules, there is also the issue of financial burden that has to be taken into consideration. Imagine the stress any homeowner would feel after discovering that he or she has to pay not only the damages the water caused to his or her house, but to the neighbor's house as well. No homeowner will be willing to stands the costs and negligence of someone else and this is definitely a case that will stand in court with heavy legal fees.While there are many products that can be bought on the market to waterproof a bathroom, only those that have a proven track-record and that a qualified plumber or mason recommends should be used when it comes to waterproofing the bathroom. Any area that water comes in contact with should always be waterproofed, no matter how insignificant the area they occupy.Some of the basic characteristics that any waterproofing material should have are:

-Effective bonding
-High water resistance to both the water and water vapor
-Characteristic to adapt to the movements that are made by the tiles when there is a
-considerable amount of temperature oscillation.

A waterproofing substance does not adapt to the changes that the tiles undergo or any other bathroom construction lacks what is known as elasticity. Read the necessary instructions before applying any type of material to your bathroom, because procedures, requirements and instructions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Winter Tips From a Plumber DrPipe on How To Avoid Broken Pipes

Every plumber knows that winter is a trying season for most homeowners. This is because freezing temperatures are known to burst pipes and rocket certain expenses that most homeowners are never prepared for. While it may not be possible to hold back the freezing temperatures that are known to break certain tubes and pipes, it is possible to take the necessary precautions to not be dealt a cruel blow in winter. The simple steps that are listed below will help any homeowners survive winter without being surprised in the middle of the night with a burst pipe gushing water from one point to the next.

Make The Necessary Preparations In advance

Protecting your pipes and tubes from the fierce bite of winter at the last minuet is never a good idea. You run the risk of forgetting something or never finding the time to do everything properly. If you really do not want to write a lofty check during the winter season to any Toronto plumber then make it your personal point of duty to study your house's plumbing system to identify where the main valves and master shut-off are located .

Ensure That Your Pipes Are Insulated

Finding a Toronto plumber in the harsh winter season is both difficult and frustrating. To not run the risk of having to call one when temperatures are freezing on the great outdoors and you are stuck with a leaking tube always ensure that your pipes are insulated with heat tape or a pipe sleeve. For extra precaution it is also possible to guarantee the warmth of the pipes by using what is known as thermostatically- controlled heat cables. These special cables will ensure that the integrity of your pipes are not compromised when winter sets in by warming them up during this time period.

Check For Leaks In Advance

The worse thing about leaks is that no-one finds out they have one until they are forced to call a Toronto plumber due to a high water bill. These hidden leaks can be catastrophic when winter sets in. While it might sound silly to some people, checking to see even the slightest change in your water bill should be top priority before winter. It is also wise to look if your electrical wiring and dryer vents are showing any signs of leakage as well. Even during the winter you should always check to see if by chance there are leaks on any of the pipes.

Open Doors and Keep The Water Running

If your house is insulated then passing this heat to pipes during the winter is a great way to prevent them from freezing. This can be done by opening the doors that lead to these pipes or removing any barriers that can prevent them from getting the warmth from the insulation system in your house. This does not mean that you are going to dig down your house to expose dry wall, concrete, bricks, etc. It simply means that anything that will not compromise the overall structure of your house should be removed to allow the heat to penetrate pipes that are close to the exterior wall of the house. It is also important to allow the water to flow in and out of both hot and cold water pipes from time to time. This reduces the possibility of water becoming frozen at a certain area.

Educate Your Family

It is not enough that you are the only one that knows where the main valves are in the house. When there is a terrible leak that is caused by a burst pipe then this should be dealt with as quickly as possible. Showing your family where the main valves are and removing any obstacles that lead to these valves are steps that should be taken before winter sets in.

Seal Up Exposed Areas

Doorways, Cracks and other openings are known to give access to certain pipes. Always ensure that these areas are sealed off and check with a local hardware store to see what can be used to seal off these openings. If you happen to have to call a Toronto plumber to fix some plumbing problem not related to winter blues then take the opportunity to ask what can be used to seal off openings. The most recommended material is caulk, but the material that is used to build your house will determine which sealing agent is best.

Disclaimer. The information that is contained in this article is solely to be used as a guide and was not written with the intention of replacing professional guidance. All the information that is contained within is deemed accurate to the best of our knowledge and this website along with its owners will not be held liable for any losses or damages suffered while performing any of the steps outlined above.