6 Basic Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Every homeowner should at least know a thing or two about the pipes and wires of their own homes. You don't have to have an educational background in plumbing and electrical wiring, just the general knowledge about those is enough.

But, the question is, why do you have to know those things when you can easily call a plumber North Brisbane professional whenever you wish to? Although it's good to leave the major fixes to the experts, having the necessary understanding and awareness of how your house works can save you from bigger issues in the future. For example, your kitchen sink faucet just suddenly broke and it's starting to cause a flood in your kitchen area. What would you do? Wait for the plumber and waste all that water? The best course of action would be to shut off your main water source until the plumber comes.

It doesn't take an experienced plumber to such menial tasks. To help you with the basic plumbing knowledge that you should know, check out our list below.

Know where to shut off your main water valve

One of the first things you should know about your own house - especially when you just moved in is where to find the main water valve. Your main water valve could be located in several areas which could be inside or outside the house. If you have a basement, it could be there or somewhere hidden in your lawn. This small knowledge can save you from a lot of emergency plumbing issues in the future. So if you are experiencing water leaks or pipe problems and you don't know what to do, just shut off the water supply valve before calling an emergency plumber.

Find out what's flushable

Never treat your toilet as a trash can. You can always set-up a separate trash can inside your bathroom so you won't have to flush things out. Even flushable wipes and thick toilet papers can clog your toilet.

Do not dump things in your kitchen drain

Always use the kitchen sink strainer or catcher and never dump your excess food in your sink ever. Practice proper garbage disposal at all times so it won't clog your pipes when the time comes. It might be common knowledge to others, but if some of your home buddies are unaware, it's not offending to lecture them about it. Because in the end, all of you will be responsible for the pipe fixes that you might've avoided in the first place.

Don't ignore the leaks

Small issues could be telltale signs of bigger ones. So if you've seen a leaky faucet in your house, it is better to call a plumber right away. Don't ignore it as it could lead to major problems later on and might cost you more than you expect it to. Also, all that water down the drain is a waste of your hard-earned money.

Check for pipes before drilling holes

If you're planning on drilling holes or pounding nails in your wall, ceiling or floor, make sure to know first if there are pipes that will be affected. Because the last thing you would want is to accidentally puncture your pipes by installing something else. But, if you choose to take a chance and continue drilling holes, just make sure to put your plumber in the speed dial in case anything bad happens.

Be familiar with plumber's tape

A plumber's tape, also known as Teflon tape is used to seal pipe threads to prevent leaks around its joints and fittings. It is very easy to use but there's a proper way to apply the Teflon tape. The basics include tightening the tape around the pipe for at least three times. If you're not entirely sure if you did it right, ask for the help of a professional plumber.