5 Ways to Prevent Plumbing Issues from Keyport, NJ Realtors

Tips from Realtors in Keyport, NJ on how to minimize the risk of a plumbing disaster in your home

When a small leak occurs in the home and a homeowner attempts to repair it themselves, they are putting much more at risk than they think. One of the effects of the current weakened economy is that many times homeowners forgo the hiring and advice of a professional for bigger household maintenance and decide to take matters into their own hands. Plumbing is one area of home repair where, if you do not do the job right it could impact not only your house's water system, but your entire neighborhood’s. Simple toilet repairs and fixing leaky faucets or exposed pipes can easily be handled by amateurs, but if it is something more involved, the best idea is to call a plumber as soon as possible.

Below you will find five crucial tips to remember from Realtors in Keyport, NJ in order to avoid a plumbing catastrophe:

Remember the one essential plumbing rule

A smart rule regarding home plumbing to always remember is that if you cannot see it but know that a problem is being created, you better call a plumber. Home, property, and neighborhood water systems are complex systems. There is a good chance that one wrong move at your end could create a domino effect, hurting other pipes. You could cause flooding or other major water damage by excessively fooling around with things when you do not know what you are doing. In cases such as these, Realtors in Keyport, NJ advise it is time to call in a professional.

Know where your pipes are located

Pounding nails and driving screws is fine until you puncture a copper or plastic supply or drain. The thing to do in this situation, according to Keyport, NJ Realtors, is to buy a stud sensor that can also detect pipes and wiring. You can also look around in your attic or unfinished basement to get a better sense of where pipes are hiding. Also, if the wall will be covered by whatever you are building or installing, you can always carefully cut a test hatch to find plumbing hiding in the walls.

Familiarize yourself with the plumbing code

Plumbing is a fickle business, with many rules indicating the allowable distance between a fixture from the home's drain-waste-vent line based on the pipe diameter and other hidden matters. The only way you can handle a big job yourself is to know the code and what it calls for as far as pipe sizing, and fixture spacing. Realtors in Keyport, NJ stress the importance of familiarizing the plumbing code for your particular town.

Do not over tighten anything

Many amateur plumbers foolishly believe that if tight is good, really tight is probably better. The truth of the matter is that a clean, properly cut and fitted joint that has been sealed does not need to be over tightened. Brass–copper gas fittings are particularly vulnerable to wrench damage from over tightening, while steel pipe is more forgiving.

Always perform a leak test

Although this should be obvious, many homeowners forget this crucial step before moving on to their next project. When you've installed a new valve component (or the valve itself), Keyport, NJ Realtors suggest the best test is to aggressively open and close the valve and run both hot and cold water through it, and do the same when checking drains. Run water down a drain and fill up a sink or tub and then drain it to check for leaks. Check gas lines with a soapy water and detergent solution or a bubble-creating leak detector found in hardware stores.

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