plumbing tips

1. YOU CLEVER LITTLE PLUMBER, YOU!
NO, REALLY.....
PLUMBING TIPS YOU NEVER KNEW YOU
NEEDED…..
UNTIL YOU DO

2. Use pipe insulation to
prevent sprayer snarls.
If you have to jiggle the
hose as you pull out your
kitchen sink sprayer,
chances are the hose is
catching on the shutoff
valves. For smooth
operation, slip 1/2-in. foam
pipe insulation over the
pipes and shutoff handles.
Tape it if it won't stay put.
Get the insulation at home
centers for about $3.

3. Use a shop vacuum to
remove hard objects
When a hard object like a
toothbrush, comb or toy
plugs a toilet or drain, a
plunger may not be the
solution—it might only
push the obstruction in
deeper. Instead, suck out
the water and the
obstruction with a
wet/dry shop vacuum.

4. Noisy pipes? Wrap
pipes in adhesive-
backed felt.
Running hot water can
cause copper pipes to
expand and grind
against pipe hangers
and joists. So pick up
some adhesive-backed
felt at the hardware
store and cut it into
strips. Then remove
each hanger and wrap
the pipe before
refastening the hanger.

5. Noisy sink?
Deaden sounds with
expanding foam.
Fill the space between two
stainless steel sink basins
with expanding foam. The
foam deadens vibrations
and lessens the gong effect.
It's possible to do this with
the sink in place but much
neater and easier before
installation. Either way, let
the foam harden and then
trim away the excess with a
knife.

6. Use a strong magnet to
find hidden pipes.
When trying to locate a
pipe under the floor,
attach a rare earth
(neodymium) magnet to
an electrical fish tape and
feed it into drain lines
through the cleanout plug.
Locate the magnet (and
the pipe) under the floor
using an ordinary
compass, which will turn
wildly when it finds the
strong magnet.

7. Use a bucket of water to
flush the toilet.
You don't have to run to
the neighbor's bathroom
during a plumbing
project. Before you turn
off the water supply, fill
2- gallon buckets with
water. Flush the toilet by
dumping the water in the
bowl. You'll get one flush
per bucket. Works just as
well as the usual
method, although it
won't refill the bowl.

8. Take a picture before
closing up walls.
Your walls may not have
much inner beauty, but
it's a good idea to take
pictures of what's inside
during remodeling. The
same goes for floors and
ceilings. When your next
remodeling or repair
project rolls around, you'll
know where the framing
and the electrical and
plumbing lines are.

9. Plunge water first before
removing the trap.
Before you remove a sink
trap, give the drain a few
plunges with a toilet plunger.
This will push most of the
water out of the trap,
lessening the mess when
you pull the trap. If you have
a double sink, be sure to
plug the other drain to
contain the air pressure. If
the strainer isn't a screw-
down style, you'll have to
hold it down while you
plunge the drain.

10. Get a look at hidden spaces:
Snap a shot with your
camera or cell phone.
Whether you're remodeling
or just running wire, knowing
what's inside the walls is
helpful. If your project
requires holes in the wall or
ceiling, all you need is a
digital camera or cell phone
to see what's inside those
dark spaces.