One essential utility that powers our homes and commercial buildings is the plumbing system. Thanks to the plumbing system, we can accomplish daily and basic tasks such as showering, drinking water, washing hands, cooking, cleaning, brushing teeth, and even having hot water at our disposal. However, most people don’t give the plumbing a second thought when it is properly doing its job, but it is all they could focus on when something goes awry. Thus, having a basic understanding of your plumbing system can help you troubleshoot, conduct DIY minor repairs, or decide when to call a plumber. With general plumbing knowledge, you can save money in service calls and avoid headaches when it comes to breakdowns and plumbing problems. 

If you have a basic understanding of indoor plumbing, you can fix some of the most persistent leak problems with just the use of a wrench and other essential tools. While no one should ever be discouraged to call a trusted, licensed professional plumber to conduct quality plumbing maintenance, we listed some things about indoor plumbing that you can learn. 

Know Your Water Source 

More often, water comes into a house or building from one of these two sources-- a residential well and private pump or a city water line. In rural areas, most residents have well water carried into their homes via a pump, with no charge. |For urban residents who have city water, they receive a monthly or quarterly bill for water usage. 

Know Where and When to Turn Off Water Main 

Should your building experience some leak, it would greatly help knowing where to go and what to do to cut off the water supply. Knowing where and when to turn off your water main is way better than when you’re panicking, and water is spewing everywhere and flooding your property. This task is pretty easy since there is almost always the main valve near your street. If it is not the case, you should probably check your basement, where a second valve is sometimes in place. The water main often resembles a bar-type lever or a wheel. If your main resembles a wheel, you can turn it off by turning it slowly clockwise until it stops. On the other hand, if it is a lever, you can push it right or down until it stops. Keep in mind that it never hurts to find the water main at the onset and practice turning it off so you would know the process once a crisis occurs. 

Finding the Individual Cut-Off Valves 

Aside from the water main, water-using appliances such as toilets, sinks, or the washer have individual cut-off valves. It would be best to check them by looking for a small handle that you can use to stop their water supply. The handle is usually low for toilets, back, and often to the wall. While for sinks, underneath the pipes, or against the walls. Washer handles are generally behind the item and near the wall. As for showers and bathtubs, they often come with cut-off valves in adjacent closets or the basement. Finding the locations of these appliances will enable you to isolate one area that may need maintenance without the need to shut off the water supply for the entire place. 

Examine Water Meter and Bill 

When you know where your water meter is and how to read it can help you monitor your usage and keep utility expenses down. Also, it is best to thoroughly examine your water bill every month because spikes can indicate leakage that you don’t see.

Acquaintance With the Water Heater 

Usually, there is a handle or lever near the water heater connected to your main water line for the water supply. Take note that the water heater has two water lines-- one for cold water and another for hot water out of the heater. Hence, your water heater should have a temperature gauge or a dial near its top or bottom, where you can easily adjust the temperature you want. You will have to regularly examine all the pipes and accessories attached to the water heater for checking leaks. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to place some drip pan underneath the water heater. It is to prevent leakage, especially during the last of the heater’s life. 

Unclogging a Sink 

Clogged sinks are probably the most common plumbing problems anyone could encounter in his or her life. Often, a drain cleaner can do the job, but if the sink still drains slowly even after using a drain cleaner, you can try a natural solution-- a mixture of ½ cup each of vinegar and baking soda. Mix the substances well and slowly pour them into the drain to see if it helps. If the clogged sink is due to an object stuck down the line, you have to cut off water supply to the sink and place a bucket underneath the “p-trap” part of the pipe beneath the sink. Then, you can unscrew both sides of the U to find the stuck object or clear the clog. If you’re not sure if you can handle this issue, then it’s high time to call a professional than risk further damaging the pipe. 

Installation of a Plumbing Access Door 

Installing a plumbing access door is one of the most straightforward DIY plumbing jobs that anyone can do. Not all households or commercial properties give much attention to plumbing access doors, but what they miss out on is the chance to provide easy access to the plumbing system. With an access door, repairs and maintenance will be easy and quick. Moreover, with the many kinds of materials today, plumbing access doors now come in different construction to accommodate every building’s unique needs. 

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson