Four hot tips for ‘part time’ plumbers

We always recommend calling the professionals in for plumbing jobs, gas central heating or boiler issues, but we recognise that there are ‘have a go heroes’ who will try and complete the task themselves, as long as it doesn’t seem too daunting! In this blog, we provide these ‘part time’ plumbers with four tips which could help their efforts. And fear not, if you don’t succeed you can always give us a call!

1. Caulk > Putty

You might have heard of ‘plumber’s putty’, but take it from us, this sealant is far from the best option you can choose. Instead, we recommend that you use silicone caulk, to avoid damaging stone or plastic surfaces. Putty is known to crack, dry out and leave the potential for leaks.

2. Pick up tools are your friend!

Clogs don’t always need to be fixed with a drain snake or by disassembling the trap. In many cases, you can use a pick up tool to yank it out without having to go to any more trouble. Another alternative is using a wet or dry vacuum to suck out the clog.

3. Pick plastic

Choosing plastic drain lines under your sink, as opposed to metal, could save you from a world of problems. Aside from being cheaper, they are also easier to install and adjust in the case of a leak developing. And you won’t have to worry about the corrosion which can develop with metal lines. If a metal drain leaks, one of the best things you can do is get them replaced with plastic.

4. Tape it up!

Tape is ideal for sealing up pipe threads, and if you purchase the thicker variety you will find it tears more neatly. It should be used exclusively on pipe threads, rather than other connections. Always wrap it round clockwise – this will prevent the tape unwrapping when screwing the joint together – and aim for about three times round.

So that’s our four home plumbing tips, we hope they come in handy next time you take matters into your own hands. Remember – should you get into difficulty, we are just a call away!

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