5 Steps to Properly Upgrading Your Plumbing in Your Home
Brass supply pipes and cast-iron were once considered state-of-the-art plumbing. They have been replaced by flexible cross-linked polyethylene, called PEX; copper; and PVC plastic.
No matter whether the material is metal, plastic, or a combination, it is the skill of the plumber in Toronto that is responsible for a system to work well. A leaky joint can cause hundreds and thousands of dollars in damage. Supply pipes have to be anchored to prevent rattles and thumps when a faucet is turned on. A drain that slopes improperly will continually clog
Step 1. Shut Off the Water
The most prominent and most regrettable mistake people make when upgrading plumbing on their own is to fail to shut off the valve of the water source. It is the most critical and obvious step of any plumbing upgrade. Forgetting to shut off the water is a mistake made only once but can cause damage to fittings and pipes as a desperate attempt is made to put things back together.
Step 2. Match Pipe Materials, Connectors, and Size
What seems simple often makes the upgrade attempt without a plumber an immense problem. Trying to connect a copper pipe and a galvanized metal pipe leads to nearly instantaneous corrosion.
Pipes do not always have to be replaced. A proper sealant and connector can typically be used to connect them. Two pipes that fit together may not hold water. They have to be matched correctly.
Step 3: Slope the Drain Properly
Gravity is the force behind plumbing. It is evident that drains and pipes need to flow downhill. The proper grade must be used to create the path to the sewer. Replacing or installing pipes is not guesswork. Enlist the help of a plumber.
The ideal alignment is a fourth-inch per foot in length of the pipe. A grade less than the recommendation will likely not drain. Grades more than the suggested alignment will drain too fast and leave solid waste to remain and clog the drain.
Step 4: Use a Properly Vented Trap
Drain traps are pipe arrangements that separate areas of the home from the plumbing system. They prevent critters from crawling into the pipes and protect the house from explosive methane gas.
Many do-it-yourselfers connect two traps in a ‘S’ formation. S-traps do not have the proper ventilation and are potential problems later on.
A vented P-trap eliminates the risk of a lost water barrier and adds space between the home and the plumbing system.
Step 5: Choose the Correct Tools for the Job
Before upgrades can be done, it is often necessary to clear a clog. Sometimes, a plunger is not enough to do the job. Novices try something they feel is ‘good enough.’ That decision could be damage and time-consuming.
A typical drain snake can damage the toilet bowl. Different jobs require different sized snakes. Bathtubs, washing machines, and toilets have different sized drains. The wrong tool can damage fittings and pipes that lead to corroded pipes or leaks down the road. Use the plumbing tool designed for the job.
Conclusion: The above information serves a dual purposed. The first is to provide guidelines to keep from making serious mistakes. The other is to suggest enlisting the help of a plumber in Toronto.