Plumbing Repair DIY

This DIY contains:

• How To Avoid Busted Pipes

• How To Tell If Your Toilet Flange Needs To Be Replaced

• Plumbing Preventive Maintenance
How To Avoid Busted Pipes

Step 1 – Be Prepared!

Busted pipes can cause a lot of damage to everything you own. There are some things you can be aware of to be prepared and even prevent this from happening. The best thing you can do is be aware of your main shut off valve. Locate the shut off and know exactly where to go in case of an emergency.

Step 2 – Insulating Your Pipes

It’s best to insulate all pipes that are exposed, especially those in unheated areas. Areas like the attic, basement and garage are the main ones. Make sure that you maintain warm air temperatures in your home. Block out drafts that may lower the air temperature with insulation and other materials.

Step 3 – Leave a Faucet Dripping

In severe cold weather, it calls for some desperate measures. Leaving a faucet on slightly can prevent frozen pipes. Just enough for a small steady stream. Moving water doesn’t freeze. If the water is moving, then, of course, it can’t freeze.
How To Tell If Your Toilet Flange Needs To Be Replaced

Step 1 – Check For Water Leakage

First sure sign to look for would be water leaking from around your toilet. Check all around, even the front, to see if there is water on the floor. Be sure to take run a finger along where the toilet bowl and floor meet. If you feel any water, then there’s trouble.

Step 2 – Check For Loose Toilet Bolts

If the bolts on each side of your toilet don’t seem tight, or seem to not be connected to anything, then it is probable there is a problem underneath the toilet. It will have to be pulled up to find out more.

Step 3 – Check for Movement or Leaning

If there is movement in the toilet, this is not good. The toilet should be bolted to the flange, which is bolted to the floor. There should be no movement. If the toilet seems to lean, the flange is possibly in need of repair.

Plumbing Preventative Maintenance
  • Disconnect outside water hoses. Water left in the hoses can freeze and expand, causing faucets and connecting pipes inside your home to freeze and break.
  • Make sure outside faucets aren’t dripping or leaking.
  • When pipes freeze, water pressure builds causing cracks – no matter if the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash more than 250 gallons of water in a single day.
  • If your home has interior shut-off valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from lines.
  • Cover outside faucets using a faucet insulation kit available at home centers.
  • Insulate pipes in unheated areas, such as garages or crawl spaces, with heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables.
  • Seal door and window leaks to reduce cold air drafts.
  • Your water heater works harder during cold weather. Flush it out and remove sediment buildup, which causes corrosion, shortens its life span and reduces heating efficiency. Drain several gallons from the faucet near the bottom of the tank through a hose directed into a nearby drain.
  • Carefully test the water heater’s pressure relief valve (water is very hot) by lifting up on the lever and letting it snap back. The valve should allow a burst of hot water into the drainpipe. If not, call a professional to have a new valve installed.
  • Set the water heater’s thermostat at 120°F for optimum performance.
  • Clear leaves and debris from downspouts to ensure easy drainage when water freezes and thaws.
  • Inspect and clean sump pump and pit. Pumps exposed to extreme cold can freeze, preventing the pump from operating.
  • When leaving home for extended periods, shut off the main water valve and drain the system by opening faucets at the highest and lowest points of the house. Keep the heat on and set no lower than 55 degrees.