Have Fun With DIY Bathroom Plumbing

DIY bathroom plumbing should not be as scary as many would lead you to think. In many cases it is a matter of patience as well as determination that will allow you to do the work that you need to be successful in your endeavor. Many of the DIY plumbing projects that you will take on will appear to be a much bigger hassle than they really are. It is a matter of having the ability to see what needs to be done and determining a way to make that happen. In many cases you will discover that what appears to be a large project is not really nearly the task that you think it is.

Getting Started

When you do take on a project of do it yourself plumbing, you will want to make sure that you have all of the appropriate tools and supplies in order to make the project go as smoothly as possible. Do your research, know what you are getting into when it comes to what you will be doing. There are a variety of options for you to consider when it comes to installing plumbing into your home. Along with deciding what it is that you want to do, you will also need to look at the building codes for your area and decide what you can or cannot do in your home. Make sure you have a plan laid out as well as a determination of what you want to accomplish from this task.

Sources

There are many sources that you can go to when you are looking to upgrade your bathroom plumbing. In many cases you will be able to find all of the information that you need by looking online or even by going and purchasing a book to help you. If you look and see all of the different types of materials and sources that are available to you. In many cases you can go to the library to find the information that you will need in order to do the project successfully. Try to look into what is out there and do not be afraid to consult with a professional to give you guidance as far as what it is that you should or should not do. Think of what you want to do and make sure that it is something that you will actually be able to do while you are in the home and something that you can do on your own.

Don't Get Flushed by Plumbing Problems

There are several plumbing problems that the do-it-yourselfer can fix with little effort and a lot less money than calling a plumber. Remember the DIY motto is to only call for professional help when absolutely necessary. Now there is nothing wrong with hiring a professional because we cannot possibly do every project ourselves but there are many projects that we can do.

Some common plumbing problems include problems with the hot water, problems with the toilet, and problems with drainage in the sink of tubs. With hot water sometimes you may find that there is not enough hot water. This is especially true for larger families. A common cause for this may be that the thermostat on the water heater may be set too low. A fix for this is to adjust the water heater thermostat upwards. This will allow less hot water to be used to still get the temperature that everyone wants.

A common toilet problem is when the toilet does not flush completely. This of course is evidenced by remnants remaining in the bowl after the toilet is flushed. The most common cause is that the ball in the tank is not being lifted high enough. The solution is to adjust the lift mechanism so that it lifts the ball higher in the tank.

A common sink drainage problem is the grease clog. In the case of clogs, the best thing to do is to try to prevent them in the first place. A good way to prevent grease clogs is to pour about a half gallon of boiling water down the drain every other day. However if you already have a grease clog, try pouring some hot vinegar down the drain and letting is set for about 20 minutes and then follow it with boiling water after the 20 minute vinegar soak.

Plumbing problems are one of the top reasons that professional help is sought. However, many of the plumbing problems that you will face can be solved as a DIY project. So make sure that you determine that you are not equipped to solve the problem before you call the plumber.

Green Plumbing Material

"Green Plumbing Material" is coming-out to save costs. PEX, a cross-linked polyethylene, is one of those materials. PEX is a plastic that is made of individual molecules that have been linked together permanently making it durable and safe to use on water applications. PEX is proven to be a successful alternative to other types of materials like copper and CPVC. Here are the great benefits of the product:

Durability of PEX as "Green Plumbing Material"

o PEX doesn't experience corrosion, mineral build-up, abrasion, filming, pitting, and electrolysis, issues that are typically associated with metal piping.
o PEX is resistant to freeze damage, because it expands and contracts as water freezes and thaws inside the tubing, avoiding costly ruptures.
o PEX has the potential for fewer connections, reducing the chance of experiencing leaks, which typically occur at the connections within a plumbing system. With a properly installed home-run system, there are no connections hidden within the walls, so any leaks that may occur are easy to spot before they cause significant damage. Water conservation of PEX as "Green Plumbing Material"
o With a home-run system design, there are direct lines between the hot water manifold and individual fixtures. This reduces the amount of water that must be purged from a line before hot water will arrive at the fixture. Placing the manifold in a central location in the home can further reduce the length of lines.
o With a home-run system design, direct lines can be sized according to the requirements of each fixture. Manufacturers recommend the use of 3/8" tubing whenever possible, which is the smallest diameter available for PEX; a smaller diameter reduces the amount of time it takes for hot water to arrive at a fixture.

Energy efficiency of PEX as "Green Plumbing Material"

o PEX decreases the amount of energy used by the water heater, because hot water arrives at fixtures faster. This is particularly true of home-run system designs that have the hot water manifold in a central location.
o PEX has a higher R-value than other materials, which reduces the amount of heat lost from the water as it travels through the piping. Hot water stays hot, and cold water stays cold.

o PEX has fewer connections than other types of plumbing systems due to its flexible nature. This is particularly true of the home-run and remote manifold system designs. Connections add to the effective length of piping, increasing the time it takes for hot water to reach fixtures.
o PEX has mechanical fittings, rather than fittings that require the use of propane torches, helping to conserve energy on the jobsite.

Health and safety of PEX as "Green Plumbing Material"

o PEX is manufactured according to the strict standards of ASTM and CSA International. It's also regularly tested and certified by national certification agencies like NSF International and Underwriters Laboratories. PEX complies with the NSF/ANSI Standard 61 for drinking water health effects.
o PEX has mechanical fittings, which don't require solvents or chemicals that might leach into the water when the system is first used.
o PEX doesn't experience corrosion or mineral build-up, which can occur with other types of plumbing systems.
o PEX doesn't require flame, solder, or flux to install it, resulting in zero volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. BuildIQ. [n.d.]. The Green Potential of PEX Plumbing Systems. Retrieved October 2009)

Safety on the Go - Portable Water Filtration

Portable water filtration devices allow those of us who are not interested in living our lives inside the few walls of our homes a safe option when we go out. No one wants to worry about their health when going on a simple camping trip, or any other outing that is supposed to be fun, but with concerns about water safety on your mind that is exactly what happens. Water borne diseases are prevalent now, and will not abate with the carelessness inherent in so many all over the world. With this in mind, protecting your water supply from contamination is tantamount to protecting yourself.

A portable water filter is exactly what it sounds like, it is a water filter that you can carry with you when you are hiking or camping, to purify the water you plan on using there. It removes lead, chlorine, mercury, bacteria and parasites from the water you pump through it, allowing you to rest easy that you are not going to pick up a disease from these untreated rivers or streams that you so enjoy seeing.

Now I am sure you are asking yourself, why should I filter that water rather than carrying bottled water or chlorine tablets instead? There are bacteria and parasites that chlorine tablets will not kill, so using them will not give you a 'safe' glass of water, nor will it do anything for the bad taste the chloride leaves behind. Bottled water might be fine for a day trip, but staying overnight means carrying a huge supply, which can get quite costly, especially if you enjoy the outdoors and spend as much time as you can there.

What is more, all bottled water is not created equal, some is more healthy than others and some is not healthy at all. There are no real standards set for its purification, and bottled water is put into plastic containers, which are being churned out to destroy the environment while we drink through one bottle and the next.

On the other hand the long term expenditure, portable water filtration, can eliminate the bad taste associated with chlorine tablets, get rid of those heavy metals that can be dangerous, and the rest of the contaminants present in outdoor sources of water. Even better, you won't have to put up with the odor that turns your stomach before the water passes your lips. Whichever way you look at it, there is no replacement for pure natural drinking water and once you put water in your portable filter, you get just that!