Plumbing 26 April 2023

Plumbing in the Home: A Beginner’s Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Plumbing Basics

If you’re a homeowner or just moved into a new home, plumbing may seem like a daunting task. However, understanding the basics of plumbing is essential for any homeowner, as it can save you money and prevent costly damages. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about plumbing in the home.

What is Plumbing?

Plumbing is the system of pipes, fixtures, and other apparatuses used for the distribution of water in a building. It is used for various purposes, such as drinking water, washing, and heating. Plumbing systems are designed to be durable, safe, and efficient.

Types of Plumbing Systems

There are two main types of plumbing systems: the water supply system and the drainage system. The water supply system provides clean water to your home, while the drainage system removes wastewater and sewage from your home.

Common Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems can occur at any time, and they can be costly to fix. Some of the most common plumbing problems include leaky taps, blocked drains, running toilets, and low water pressure. If you notice any of these issues, it’s important to address them as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Plumbing Tools

To perform basic plumbing tasks, you’ll need a few essential tools, such as pliers, a pipe wrench, a basin wrench, a drain snake, and a plunger. It’s also a good idea to have a basic understanding of how to use these tools, so you can fix minor plumbing issues yourself.

DIY Plumbing Tips

While it’s always best to hire a professional plumber for major plumbing problems, there are some minor issues you can fix yourself. Here are a few DIY plumbing tips:

• Clean your drains regularly to prevent blockages
• Check your toilet for leaks by adding food colouring to the cistern and waiting a few minutes
• Use a plunger to clear minor toilet blockages
• Fix leaky taps by replacing the washers or O-rings
• Insulate your pipes in the winter to prevent freezing

When to Call a Professional

While DIY plumbing can save you money, there are times when it’s best to call a professional. Here are a few situations where you should call a plumber:

• Major plumbing leaks
• Sewer line problems
• Installation of new plumbing fixtures
• Hot water cylinder repairs or replacements
• Backflow prevention

Conclusion

Plumbing is an essential part of any home, and understanding the basics saves you money and prevents costly damage. Address problems as soon as they appear, and call someone in for the major ones.

The Two Things Every Homeowner Should Know

Before anything else, learn these:

Where your stopcock is. It turns off the water to the whole house. In most homes around Tonbridge it lives under the kitchen sink, though in older properties it can be in a downstairs cupboard, under the stairs or beneath a floor hatch. Find it now, turn it to check it has not seized, and make sure everyone in the house knows. A stopcock discovered for the first time at midnight, with water coming through a ceiling, is no use to anybody.

How to isolate individual fittings. Most modern taps, toilets and radiators have a small isolation valve on the pipe feeding them, turned with a flat screwdriver. Knowing where those are means you can stop a leak at one fitting without shutting off the whole house.

What to Do in a Water Emergency

1. Turn the water off at the stopcock.
2. Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit if water is anywhere near wiring or downlights.
3. Get a bucket under it and move anything valuable.
4. Photograph the damage before you clear up — your insurer will want to see it.
5. Ring a plumber, and say whether it is still running.

What It Costs to Call Us

Plumbing work is charged at £95 + VAT for the first hour, which is always billable, then £47.50 + VAT an hour after that. Materials are agreed with you before we fit or order them. A boiler service is a flat £95 + VAT.

Call 01732 792 454. We cover Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding Kent villages — see our plumbing services.