One of the toughest projects to tackle in a home is plumbing. Though a water leak can be annoying, a gas leak can be a dangerous plumbing problem that demands immediate action. As such, homeowners should always be careful not to mess when fixing a plumbing issue. These are the most common plumbing mistakes and ways to avoid them.
Mismatching Threads
One mistake that plumbers often make when installing gas dryers or new gas ranges is mismatching flare compression threads and iron pipe threads. That can cause gas to leak and create a fire hazard. However, the safety measure for this is to buy a gas connector kit with specialty fittings to make sure no gas leak as it transfers from the wall to the appliance.
Skipping the Primer
Plumbers often forget to prime the fittings and PVC pipes before gluing them together. The role of the primer is to strip away any dirt or solvents as well as breaking down the plastic layer and softening it. After applying glue to the synthetic surfaces, the two will fuse and form a watertight joint. The only time a plumber can opt not to use the primer is when using a combination of primer or glue products. However, it might be wise to check with the local plumbing inspector whether using a combination of glue and primer products is acceptable for a plumbing project or not.
Use of Dull Tubing Cutter
The wheel on the tubing cutter will over time wear out and get dull and leave a rough edge that can cause the pipes to leak or damage the joints. As a result, it might be necessary to tighten the cutter to make it cut, and this will eventually force the tubing to get dull, and the results will be the same, excessive leakage. Experts recommend not getting rid of the cutter, and instead, buy a replacement wheel that matches the cutter.
Failing to Back-Hold
Plumbers need two wrenches for tightening hex on each fitting. It won’t be possible to compress the connection without at least two wrenches. The chances are that a plumber will under-tighten one side and over-tighten the other. Use the pipe wrench to hold the pipe when tightening a hex fitting. Alternatively, use a groove plier or V-jaw tongue to hold the tube while tightening it.
Heating the Solder instead of the Copper
Plumbers often make the mistake of heating the solder together with the pipe when fixing joint thinking that it will melt into the joint. However, that doesn’t always work because the solder will certainly melt and sometimes it may not even flow into the joint. Instead, heat the pipe until it is hot enough to make the solder melt on itself.
