Plumbing Archives - DIY Project Home

Everything you Need to Know About Water Heater

Posted on September 26, 2019September 27, 2019 by Ruby Morris

Water heater is one appliance on which the entire family depends. You got to use it everyday without fail. Therefore it becomes important that you choose a water heater that will be right for your home

The water heater should be able to provide you with adequate amount of hot water at the busiest time of the day. You have to make a rough calculation of the maximum amount of water that is required at a particular time of the day. Early morning will be the appropriate time when the family is getting ready for work and school. First add the number of members that take shower in the morning and how much time they take for each shower. Typically, 2.2 gallons of water is used per minute in a shower; to this add 14 gallons for dishwasher; 5 gallons in the kitchen. This will give you a rough idea of the quantity of water being used in that rush hour. This should be the capacity of your water heater. Water capacity is measured in first hour rating (FHR) which is the volume of hot water the heater can supply in the first hour of use. The FHR is labeled on the water heater; match this number with your requirement.

The fuel for the water heater can be gas or electricity. Gas will be cheaper to operate than the electric one; though the upfront price of gas water heater will be more. If you already have a gas line then install a gas water heater otherwise electric one will also be okay. Consider the physical size of the heaters as well because the tank manufacturers have incorporated insulation into their tanks which has increased the dimensions of the water heaters somehow. Buy one with a warranty as it has been seen that the product with warranty tend to be better in quality; with better insulation, bigger heating elements and resistant to corrosion. Go for the high-end model as the difference in price from the low-end model is not much.

When you choose a water heater there are some aspects that you should take into consideration. Firstly ensure that the heating elements are bigger as it can heat water fast. With what metal the heating elements are made of – magnesium or aluminum anode rods attracts corrosive elements which prolong the tank’s life. If the water used in your home is hard then you should add anti-scale device with the heater which will prevent scale from building up on the heating elements. One point you should remember is that the drain valve near the base of the water heater should be maintained properly in order to prolong the life of the …

Easy Plumbing Emergency Tips

Posted on September 26, 2019September 27, 2019 by Ruby Morris

Plumbing system keeps the home running smoothly and since the system is used extensively, it is not surprising that suddenly something might go wrong with the plumbing without notice. Therefore in order to cope with this sudden emergency, it would be helpful if you have some knowledge of plumbing issues and how to counter it in order to minimize the probable damages.

Whether you repair or replace, any plumbing job entails shutting off the water supply to the affected area. For this, you will have to know the location of the shut-off valve. When you construct a new home or move into one, you should make it a point to know where the shut off valve of the water line is located. If the water is being supplied by a utility company then the shut-off valve will be located near the water meter and if your home is using a well for water supply then the shut-off valve will be located near the well house. So you should know where the water shut off valve is located.

You suddenly discover that hot water is leaking off the faucet or the supply line. Cut off the water supply from the affected area, if you don’t then all the hot water from the tank will drain off. But before you do so, cut off the power supply to the water heater. If the water heaters are left on and the water drains out the heating elements will continue to burn dry leading to its burn out. If this happens, you will be left with no option but to replace the water heater. Thus shutting off the power connection the moment you discover hot water leak will save you from incurring a huge expense on replacing the water heater

The toilet has clogged and it is a problem that crops up often as we tend to flush down debris through the toilet, which should not be done.

If you discover the problem in the initial stage you can prevent overflow. If you find the toilet’s water about to overflow, just turn on the water of the nearest faucet so that water flow is diverted in order to slow down the water flow to the toilet.

The toilet has clogged and it is a problem that crops up often as we tend to flush down debris through the toilet, which should not be done. If you discover the problem in the initial stage you can prevent overflow. If you find the toilet’s water about to overflow, just turn on the water of the nearest faucet so that water flow is diverted in order to slow down the water flow to the toilet. The water …

Basic Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Posted on September 25, 2019September 26, 2019 by Ruby Morris

Repairing pipe is an issue that any homeowner has to face quite often during the life span of the home plumbing system. Pipes are subject to wear and tear all the time and there comes a time when it might develop crack, break and leak all of a sudden. During initial installation there might have been some omission or imperfection which has resulted in an issue now. And in the absence of proper insulation pipes may freeze and burst during winter.

If you have the requisite equipment and tools, you can repair the pipe yourself. Almost like do-it-yourself projects. You should have the proper tools to repair pipes of copper and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), as these pipes are being used commonly now. Lead pipes are rarely used now days as they are easily corroded and likely to pose health hazard.

If you are going to repair a copper pipe you will need soldering flux, a propane torch, sandpaper, a piece of identical copper pipe and a pipe cutter. The first thing that you have to do is shut off the supply of water to the damaged pipe. Locate the shut off valve nearest to the concerned area and cut off the water supply. If the job demands cutting off water supply from the main water valve, you will find it either in the basement, or near the water meter.

Measure six inches on either side of the damaged area and with the help of the cutter, cut out the damaged section. Cut out a similar length of pipe from the new piece of pipe. With the sandpaper smooth the surface of the edges. Apply the non-corrosive soldering flux to the cut edges. Align the pipe properly and with the help of the propane torch heat the soldering flux to boiling. When you notice the pipes joining together put out the torch and let the pipe to cool. After the joint has cooled, open the water supply and observe if a leak still there.

To repair a plastic pipe you will not need a propane torch instead you will require pipe cement to join the pipes together. The initial procedure is the same as for copper pipe. Here prepare the pipes, couplers by swiping about 1.5 to about two inches on the outside of the pipe and inside the couplers. Apply pipe cement and slide the two pipes together. Then leave it to dry completely before you open the supply of water.

You have dealt with some major cracks, for the minute cracks you can use silicone sealant to repair them. After shutting off the water apply sealant directly on to the crack …