Do it yourself

Here's one for all you DIY enthusiasts out there. No one wants to live without good plumbing. Hot and cold running water, toilets that flush, and drains that drain are as much a part of modern living as electricity. Good plumbing is more than a convenience. It is a necessity that has done more to prevent disease than any other civilized invention.

Keeping plumbing in good working condition is a hard and often dirty job. As a consequence, plumbers are well paid. You can save a lot of money by learning to make some of the simpler repairs yourself.

Any plumbing system is based on common sense. In its simplest form, plumbing brings clean water into a home and carries dirty water out. In practice, plumbing systems are a lot more complicated. Working on plumbing requires special care.

If plumbing itself is based on common sense, so is plumbing safety.

Every professional or do-it-yourself plumber must think about two groups of people:

Those who use the plumbing

Those who work on the plumbing

Building codes are government regulations designed to prevent contamination and disease. Plumbing codes, for example, regulate pipe sizes and the slope of horizontal pipes. Follow the codes and you will be sure that the plumbing is safe for those who use it.

A plumber's personal safety is important too. When working on any plumbing system the plumber should:

First turn off the water pressure

Drain hot water pipes before working on them

Ground all electrical tools. Avoid using electrical equipment in wet areas

Use the right tool for the job and use it properly. When wrenches slip off the work, knuckles and hands become bruised. This is the most common plumbing-related injury

Handle sharp pipes carefully. Pipes that have rusted through are very sharp and can cut easily

Be sure the system is closed before turning the water on again

Building codes regulate the proper angle for waste water pipes. If a waste pipe slopes too much or too little, the pipe will plug up. This kind of rule protects the person who uses the plumbing.

Wrenches should fit snugly around the pipe. With adjustable wrenches, the jaws should face the direction of pull.

Always turn off the water before working on the plumbing system. Water may be turned off at the fixture or at the meter.

More home repair DIY tips for your today. The most common household plumbing problem is a dripping faucet. It is annoying and wastes water as well. The cure for a dripping faucet depends on the type of faucet used:

A compression faucet

A no-washer faucet

A compression faucet presses a washer against a seat by means of a screw thread on the valve stem. This stops water from flowing through the faucet. If the valve seat is corroded or the washer is damaged, water will seep past the valve causing a drip. If the packing is worn, water will leak out around the handle when the faucet is opened.

To repair a compression faucet, turn off the water. Bathroom and kitchen sinks usually have two valves under the sink. They control the hot and cold water. Because they are not used often, these valves may stick. Squirt penetrating oil on the valve stems and wait at least ten minutes. Then try turning the handle back and forth. If it still doesn't move, shut off the water at the meter, and replace the undersink valves before you proceed.

Open the faucet and let the water in the pipes run out. Pipes will drain faster if you can open another faucet higher up to let air in. When the pipes are drained, close the stopper in the sink to avoid dropping any small items down the drain.

If the handle screw is covered with a decorative cap, unscrew or pry the cap off. Remove the screw and handle.

Wind plastic tape or a rag around the packing nut. Remove the nut with an adjustable wrench.

If the faucet has been leaking around the handle, pry out the packing washer and the packing. Wind some packing cord around the shaft above the old packing. Push up the cord and replace the packing washer. If necessary, use a new washer.

For other leaks, replace the faucet washer. If the screw is worn or corroded, replace it with a new brass one. Feel the valve seat. If it feels rough or cracked, smooth it with a reaming tool. Carefully remove only enough metal to smooth the seat. It may be easier and less expensive to replace the entire seat.

Washerless faucets do not need to be repaired as often as those with washers. Most of them work by aligning holes to allow the water to flow through. If repairs are needed you will probably have to replace a major portion with a part that matches exactly. It may be easier, in that case, to replace the entire faucet.

Repair worn packing by winding some graphite cord around the valve shaft just above the old packing. Push it up into the cap. You may have to turn the handle a few times after assembly in order to get it to seal properly.

To remove the faucet handle, first unscrew or pry up the decorative cap. Remove the handle screw. Then pull up while gently rocking the faucet handle. Use penetrating oil if necessary.

Dripping faucets are usually caused by bad washers. Use a soft rubber washer for cold water and a hard rubber or fiber washer for hot water. Washers should not be forced into the stem. If the screw is bad, replace it with a new brass screw. Do not use a steel screw because it will rust.

To protect the chrome, wind tape around the packing nut before using a wrench.

There are many washerless faucets. Most do not have packing nuts. None have washers. Water flow is increased or decreased by a hollow sphere or adjustable metal discs similar to air vents.

A faucet reamer, also called a seat dresser or reseating tool, smoothes the metal seat. Rough valve seats tear up rubber washers. The seat is a soft metal, so remove as little as possible with the reamer.