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Many homeowners like to fix things around their property by themselves. This is fine if you are installing a shelf or painting a bare wall. When it comes to plumbing repair, there are certain safety precautions to consider before opening a drain or cutting into a wall to access the pipes.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain can help you make repairs to plumbing pipes and fixtures, and we would like to offer the following safety tips to ensure that you don’t scald, electrocute or hurt yourself while working through repairs on your own. Above all, if you are at all uncomfortable with fixing plumbing issues, we advise against trusting Google to get you through the procedure. Call our licensed and insured plumbers instead.
Check out the tips below for best practices if you do decide to take your chances on a DIY plumbing repair.
1. Plumbing Safety Musts
To keep your family safe and to safeguard the integrity of your home, follow safety guidelines carefully. First, check around the house to identify potential plumbing problems that exist or may develop in the near term.
For example, check your water heater to make sure it’s set to 120 degrees. This prevents burns from household members who touch the water heater. Having your plumber install a scald guard valve in the kids’ bathroom prevents them from getting burnt while in the tub or shower. Additionally, place all drain cleaners out of reach of small children.
You can also check for leaks and damaged pipes for any plumbing that’s visible to you. The sooner you recognize a problem and call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, the less expensive the repair is likely to be.
2. DIY Plumbing Project Safely
If you are experienced at completing small plumbing repairs, be sure to follow safety precautions. This includes wearing heavy-duty work gloves and safety glasses to protect your eyes and skin. Keep your plumbing tools out of reach of small children as you work. Below, find a list of other dos and don’ts that can keep you and your family safe.
Wear an N95 filter face mask to protect your lungs from fumes that may be coming out of your pipes, especially when dealing with chemicals. Heavy gloves can protect your hands from injury when working with chemicals or heavy tools.
3. Read the Warning Labels Carefully
We recommend calling a plumbing for clogs and slow drains you can’t clear with a plunger. Many drain cleaners available in hardware and other stores have dangerous chemicals that can create noxious fumes or damage your pipes. If you do use chemicals to clear the drains, read and follow the instructions exactly to ensure your plumbing repair doesn’t turn into a trip to the emergency room.
4. Plumbing Repair Don’ts
Plumbing can seem less complicated than it is. Take some time to consider your plan of attack before completing repairs. Our plumbers got together to compile this list of things to avoid during your plumbing repair:
- Ignore code requirements. Plumbing codes protect you and your household as well as the general public. If you aren’t sure what the local plumbing codes are, it’s a good idea to ask your local building codes department for a copy. For example, if you don’t include a vacuum breaker in your water supply line, you can contaminate your drinking water.
- Cut blindly. Before drilling or cutting into a floor, wall or ceiling, make sure you know what you might hit such as a pipe, stud or electrical lines.
- Misuse tools. This sounds like common sense, right? That is, until you get frustrated at a connector or drain that won’t budge. Damaged tools can quickly become expensive to replace and stripped wrenches and other tools can endanger your safety. Make sure any power tools you use are in good working order.
5. Plumbing Repair Dos
Safety often means thinking ahead before starting a DIY plumbing repair. Any time you think you might need help, leave it to the professionals at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. Our courteous technicians put safety first and handle repairs quickly and efficiently.
Here are safety tips and definite dos when it comes to home plumbing repair:
- Before opening a drain: Before removing a cleanout, ensure that the contents aren’t going to come your way. Although drains aren’t designed to remain under pressure, a clog or blockage can cause pressure to build in the line. Our professional plumbers could share horror stories of opening a cleanout and witnessing an eruption of spewing sewage. (Even less pleasant than it sounds!)
- Shut off the water. No matter what you’re doing, whether it involves a drain or water supply line, shut off the water to your home to stay on the safe side. This avoids injury if you accidentally screw off a cap or knob not realizing it holds back pressurized water. This avoids a frantic search for the appropriate water valve.
- Stay informed. Check your municipal plumbing codes before doing any work. Know when a professional is required and deal with licensed plumbers who take out the appropriate permits as needed for each plumbing project.
Leave the Hard Stuff to the Professional Plumbers
Homeowners often feel confident in making small repairs to their homes. If you know a few tips and tricks to make a simple plumbing repair, feel free to do so. However, it’s a good idea to leave bigger jobs to professional plumbers. Taking on large projects can cost you a lot of time, frustration and money, only to find out you have to call the plumbing company in the end anyway. For fast, no-hassles plumbing repair services, call bluefrog Plumbing and Drain today.
