Many homeowners are eager to take the reins on household repairs. However, while some fixes require minimal effort, plumbing tasks often fall into the “Dangerous” category.
Below, Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc.’s plumbers in Santa Cruz, California, provide some essential plumbing safety tips to help you protect yourself. If you plan complex plumbing tasks, remembering our recommendations here could protect you and your property.
#1 Understand Your Plumbing Network and Exactly What You’re Going To Be Doing
Plumbing problems go beyond trickling water and wads of slimy hair caught in drains. Knowing a few plumbing basics, like the location of the emergency shutoff, is a good start, but these network layouts vary from building to building. The first of our plumbing safety tips involves comparing available plumbing diagrams to your own property’s plumbing system.
Learn more about the task you want to accomplish. What tools will you need, and which tool safety practices apply? How do various instructions outline the task?
Glean as much information as you can before you touch the plumbing. It takes time.
#2 Always Use Personal Protective Equipment
Even if you’ve used the tools or completed similar tasks before, protective gear prevents avoidable injuries. Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc.’s plumbers will always keep the following on hand:
- Safety goggles
- Steel-toed boots
- Fitted clothing that covers limbs
- Respiratory masks
- Thick rubber gloves
Note that these protection needs may vary depending on the plumbing repair job.
#3 Create a Safe, Organized Work Environment
Another of our essential plumbing safety tips is one that homeowners should never forget: a safe workspace is imperative!
What might that look like for plumbing?
- You ensure proper ventilation to avoid stuffiness, discomfort, and contamination.
- You eliminate flooding, fuel, or electrical hazards. Shut off supply lines as needed.
- You have ample light to see what you’re doing.
- You can move around freely and easily.
- You know where potential hazards are, like heated surfaces or electrical wires.
Safety and predictability are key when working on home plumbing problems.
#4 Use Care When Handling Your Everyday Fixtures
Whether you’re trying a fix or just rinsing your faucet aerators, treating the fixture carefully preserves its service life. For example, your faucet hardware can become stuck because of mineral deposits or from a general lack of movement. If you try to take it apart to fix it, being rough with it to loosen things might just break something and render the faucet unusable.
You often have to encourage plumbing fixtures in increments. The same concept applies to your more expensive fixtures and appliances and everyday items alike.
#5 Some Things Should Never Enter Your Property’s Drainage System
Plumbing safety tips can also apply to everyday habits. Conscientious usage especially applies to your property’s drainage system. Some materials that should never go down the drain include:
- Paper or plastic products
- Grease, oil, or fat
- Stringy or starchy foods
- Harsh chemical drain cleaners
When too much of the wrong thing wedges in a drain or sewage pipe, it exposes your entire household to filthy gray water and pathogens. Good habits equal safer plumbing.
#6 Know the Consequences of Messing Up Repairs
You might feel triumphant after completing a few successful DIY repairs, and rightfully so! It takes skill and attention to detail to work with plumbing infrastructure successfully. However, doing this work unlicensed and without professional experience may still void the warranties on those appliances or installations.
Many manufacturers strictly outline what and how they’ll cover future repair services. For a more complex problem, you’ll want warranty coverage so that your plumbing equipment receives professional assistance or timely replacements.
#7 Never Underestimate Potential Hazards of Plumbing
Even when you create a safe workspace, understand basic tool safety, and wear the right protective gear, unexpected hazards show up. In any home improvement task, expect the unexpected. You don’t want unforeseen circumstances to lead to significant injury or future property damage, so be realistic.
You’ll need help with some plumbing tasks. For example, you have to practice ladder safety when reaching the vent pipe on your rooftop. Even having one other person hold the ladder steady can save you a world of trouble.
#8 Contact Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc. For Plumbing Safety Tips and Safe Services
The last of our plumbing safety tips is simple: ask our professional plumbing service for guidance if you have any doubts about what you’re doing!
At Expert Plumbing & Water Heaters, Inc., our professional plumbing services can keep you and your household safe. Call 831-480-6898 to schedule a service. You can also read our maintenance checklist to see what to expect.
