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DIY PLUMBING THE BASIC'S |
This feature is to explain the basics of plumbing, and also a number of ways to ensure the job goes smoothly. This information is to assist all DIYers both novice and the more professional to update their skills in the knowledge of basic plumbing. Hopefully you will find this article will help you become a lot more familiar with all the valves in your home which in a case of an emergency you can turn off the water supply. When you are dealing with a burst pipe you will need to act fast in order to avoid any further water damage to your property. Leaking pipes spell only on thing bad news even a minor water leak can cause your ceiling to collapse and cause a total mess.
Underground Stopcock.
The function of this valve is to turn off the incoming flow of water from the main stopcock on the road into your home. This underground stopcock can be found on the footpath outside your house. . It is very important to identify your own stopcock as there may be more than one stopcock fitted in the footpath. In the case of an emergency your internal stopcock fails to shut off the incoming mains water or you are unable to find same, close off your underground stopcock by means of a water key. This is a device which can be purchased from your local DIY store and would recommend if you do not own such a tool you purchase one when next at your local DIY store. If you have to replace your internal stopcock first turn off your underground stopcock in the footpath, then turn on the cold mains water tap at your sink-unit it may take a few minutes to run dry then you may proceed to install the new internal stopcock as already outlined.
Stopcocks.
The stopcock is a valve that regulates the incoming flow of water from the main stopcock on the road into your home. The main stopcock in most houses can be found either under the sink unit or under the stairs. It is very important you know where is valve is in your own home as in a case of an emergency shut off this stopcock. We would recommend you take the time to locate this valve and clearly mark or label same as others may need to turn this valve off in an emergency situation. If you have not turned off your stopcock recently check same now turn the valve clockwise until tight the vale should now be fully closed. To check same turn on the cold mains water tap at your sink-unit it may take a few minutes to run dry, if the water fails to stop will have to replace your stopcock immediately which is called good preventive maintenance. After fitting the new stopcock occasionally open and close the valve this will keep the valve free from becoming ceased and unable to function correctly. If you do have to replace your stopcock always remember the valve has a directional arrow marked on the valve body. When fitting same make sure the arrow is facing in the same direction as the flow of water stopcock are made in different sizes make sure you replace like for like when replacing same.
Gate Valves:
The function of a gate valve is to control the flow of water from the storage attic tank to the domestic plumbing in your home. It is very important you know where is valve is in your own home as in a case of an emergency or if you are carrying out a DIY project. We again would strongly recommend you take the time to locate all gate valves and clearly mark or label same as you may need to turn off there gate valves in the future. If you have not used your gate valves for some time check same now turn the valve clockwise until tight the vale should now be fully closed, if the valve is ceased or fails to turn off replace your gate valve immediately again this is good preventive maintenance. After fitting the new gate valve again occasionally open and close the valve this will keep the valve free from becoming ceased and unable to function correctly.
Draining the plumbing system
If you have to carry out any repairs or installing any new plumbing in your home, It is essential to be competent in the basic plumbing skills to carry out this exercise.
In most Irish homes mains water is supplied to the house under pressure through the raising main supply pipe. This in turn supplies water to the storage tank in your attic, and drinking water to your sink-unit tap. The rest of the house which includes all other taps, and sanitary fittings are feed from the attic storage tank on a gravity feed. This also includes the hot water cylinder fitting in the hot press area.
To drain down the all the cold water in the bathroom:-
Turn the gate valve in the hot press clockwise until closed vale should now be fully closed, to check same turn on the cold s water tap at the bath let it run it may take a few minutes to run dry, if the water fails to stop will have to replace your gate valve. If you are faced with this situation another method of turning off the bathroom water can be used. This is to go into the attic in your storage tank you will see a ball-valve and float, by means of placing a piece of timber or similar place same across the storage tank and tie the arm of ball-valve to timber by rope or coat hanger. Again run both tap at bath until dry this can take up to 10 minutes as taps are running check water level in storage tank in attic
To drain down the all the hot water in the bathroom:-
Turn the gate valve in the hot press clockwise until closed vale should now be fully closed, to check same turn on the hot water tap at the bath let it run it may take a few minutes to run dry, if the water fails to stop will have to replace your gate valve ( see above)
To drain down the domestic hot water cylinder:-
Firstly make sure you turn off the electric immersion heater in the hot water cylinder, also very important make sure the central heating boiler is also turned off. Now turn off the gate valve in the hot press which feeds the hot water cylinder, turn valve head clockwise until closed, the vale should now be fully closed. Now turn on the hot water tap at the bath let it run it may take a few minutes to run dry, attach a hose to the drain cock on the hot water cylinder open same the cylinder will now start to drain check end of hose pipe to see water running down drain from hose.
Removing air locks from the plumbing system.
If you are faced with a situation where water does not run freely from your taps or plumbing fittings you may be faced with a common airlock in your plumbing system
.
The first thing to check is the mains water tap in the kitchen, turn same on if water flows freely this has established you have no interruption in the mains water supply. However if water does not flow from the kitchen tap you must first check you internal stopcock is not closed or requires replacement ( see above) If you have established that the internal stopcock is working correctly you may now contact your local water authority and inform them of the situation. It is not uncommon to have a break in water supply from time to time due to all the road and building work being carried out.
A common DIY method of removing airlocks from the plumbing is to connect a piece of garden hose from the cold water tap in the kitchen to the adjacent hot water tap. Firstly open fully the hot tap now slowly open the cold mains tap you will now hear the movement off water between both taps. The pressure from incoming mains water should now to start to push the airlock from the plumbing system. To check the airlock has now been removed turn off both taps remove the piece of hose from the hot water tap turn same on water may spurt from the tap and the return to full flow. Repeat if necessary and allow extra time for the airlock to be thoroughly removed. If however you are unsuccessful in removing the airlock the services of a professional plumber may be required.
Fixing burst plumbing pipe-work
If you find yourself in the situation where have a burst plumbing pipe do not panic (see refer to drain section). You must now identify where the actual leak is, this may be a water stain on the ceiling or a wet patch on the carpet you may only here a hissing noise coming from under your floor boards.
The next step is to expose the burst pipe-work and repair same. Cut out the damaged section of pipe-work by means of a junior hack saw or copper pipe cutters. Now insert new piece of pipe-work using push tight fittings slip same along pipe-work thus allowing the old and new pipe-work to join. Turn back on water and test pipe-work any water leaks now the repair is completed.
Tricks of the trade.
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, dealing with a burst plumbing pipe. You can use a piece of garden hose first remove the damaged section of pipe-work now push the piece of garden hose over the copper pipe and secure same by means of a jubilee clip. This is only a temporary repair and a permanent job will have to carried out (see above)
Dealing with frozen pipes.
The main reason pipes freeze is they are unprotected from hostile weather conditions. This problem usually arises in the winter when outside fall below freezing, the only way to protect your pipe-work is to insulate same. All plumbing pipe-work in your attic space should be insulated. If you find yourself dealing with frozen pipe-work one method commonly used is to apply heat to the pipe by means of a hair dryer. This will thaw out the frozen pipe-work and allow water to flow freely. If when you have thawed out the pipe-work and now find the frost has caused a fracture in the pipe-work ( see above)
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