Plumbing might come off as an easy task to handle, provided you know what you are doing, and well determined to follow the National Construction Codes. Even if you are new to plumbing, you can easily fix minor issues like dripping faucets, leaky pipes, or runny toilets. How simple it may appear to be, a single mistake can put a dent in your bank balance.
Here are 5 plumbing mistakes that can cost you and how to fix them
1. Flushing wrong things down the toilet
You must avoid flushing every other thing down your toilet. However, most homeowners tend to drain their feminine products, toys, and other odd items. These things often agoes easily down the toilet, but get lodged somewhere in the drain line. Everyone in your house must stay informed about it, especially children and teenagers.
Fix: Start with unclogging the toilet with a plunger. If that doesn’t solve the issue, then you may have to contact professional plumbers in Canberra. They use advanced tools to remove the entire toilet and clean it manually.
2. Failing to reinstall the faucet correctly
Regular maintenance is a must and calling a professional frequently doesn’t come cheaper. You may do it by yourselves, but make sure to put all the parts at their usual place, especially the faucet.
A faucet may look like a quick fix component, but it is made of several tiny parts. Even misplacing one tiny piece can land you into trouble.
Fix: Take pictures while disassembling the faucet, and refer to those pictures while assembling them back. It may be a hassle at first, but once you proceed, it will become a cakewalk.
3. Frequently Using Drain Cleaners
Commercial drain cleaners indeed do an impeccable job in removing drain clogs and tough stains, but using them too much will only do more damage.
Drain cleaners are caustic and form chemical reactions to create heat. The heat from the chemicals can melt the pipes (PVC and Metals) and other components.
Fix: The best way to avoid such issues is to stay alert in the first place. Don’t let any unusual item go down the toilet. If you face any problem, try to use natural cleansing agents. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda helps in loosening up the clog. Leave the mixture for half an hour and drain the toilet through a plunger.
4. Too much tightening the parts
The phrase “tighter the better” doesn’t apply while installing pipes and fittings. Overdoing processes like coupling, elbowing or installing galvanized pipes can form cracks. Even tightening a toilet closet bolt too much can damage the porcelain as well. Sometimes, these cracks go unnoticed, but it will only take a few weeks when you see them falling off.
Fix: Actually, it’s hard to determine whether the connection is tight enough. However, once the connection ceases to move, it’s your cue to stop right there and not overdo it.
5. Not following National Construction Codes
As a homeowner, it’s common for you to take minor renovation and remodeling projects on your own. It’s completely fine as long as you follow the “National Construction Codes”. However, failing to follow these codes can land you in trouble while updating your homeowner’s insurance or selling the property.
Not only legally, but it’s a moral responsibility to keep your plumbing and other renovation projects according to the National Construction Codes. By not following them, you are inviting a great deal of danger to you, your family or future residents.
You can get the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) here or you avoid all these hassles by contacting some certified plumbing services in Canberra for a safe and precise job.
