One of the main causes of plumbing incidents stems from inadequate installations; this is why it is important to pay attention when building them and to give them the maintenance they need so that they do not become a headache or unnecessary expense.

What exactly are plumbing fixtures?

It is the network of supply and provision of drinkable water of any building in which people live, which is distributed by means of a set of branched pipes that reach the different points of the place.

Importance of building the plumbing properly

Among the most relevant parts in the construction or renovation of a house, without a doubt, the plumbing stands out, and it is that as it was commented, the concept includes everything concerning the installation and maintenance of the pipes that not only supply the home with drinking water, but also evacuate the residual waters.

This is the reason why before starting to build them, a work plan is needed in which it outlines the design;

• Division of the home by sectors: assuming that the house plan is not available, the first step in the construction of the plumbing system is to sectorize the area through a sketch.
• Pipes represented on the plan: since the objective is for the water to reach all points of the home, the pipe line must be drawn, delimiting whether it is for hot or cold water.
• Locating the stopcocks: the initial diagram will also have to include the location of the complete general stopcock.
• Branching of the pipes: at this point, the network of pipe installations that will make up the home from the main pipe will be specified, hence the need to locate it in a place that can be divided into other sectors.
• Connect everything: the last point in the diagram is to connect all the divisions to the water intake.

What are the usual problems with plumbing installations?

Whether due to lack of maintenance, improper use or simple neglect, plumbing installations tend to present problems more frequently than would be desired; among the most common are

1. Dripping taps

In addition to increasing service bills and being counterproductive to environmental care, dripping taps are a real nuisance in the home. As a rule, the problem is due to the weakening of the materials used in the manufacturing process over time, causing small cracks in the joints.

However, determining the origin of the leak in the tap is not an easy task, so it is convenient to replace the part. If you do not have the necessary knowledge, the action to take is to close the localized stopcocks and call a plumber.

2. Clogged pipes

Lack of maintenance is a primary cause for shower, washstand and sink pipes to become clogged, a common problem regardless of the type of dwelling; the placement of grids in the drain that prevent the passage of waste and regular cleaning, become imperative to prevent the unpleasant incident.

Although the market is full of products that promise immediate results, in addition to the homemade tricks to get rid of the blockages, sometimes both methods are insufficient, requiring the action of a professional plumber who is in charge of assessing the dimension of the problem and proposing the most viable solution.

3. Problems caused by lime

The accumulation of lime usually generates multiple inconveniences not only in the plumbing installations, but also in the heating supplies in the homes; in the majority of the occasions, the problems appear in areas where the water reaches greater concentrations of the element, preventing the uniform flow through the taps.

Nowadays, it is easy to find chemical products with which to combat all the inconveniences caused by the accumulation of lime, however, the inadequate use of them, ends up causing worse damage to taps and pipes, even demanding their replacement.

Common tasks associated with plumbing installations and their possible solutions

Some plumbing problems can be solved without calling a plumber, in fact, they don’t require much skill or knowledge to solve:

Unjamming a symphony boat

This is undoubtedly one of the most assiduous plumbing jobs of all, since it depends to a great extent on preventing pipe problems and clogging; although it is not too difficult, if it is among the most unpleasant ones.

The first step is to locate the lid of the symphony can and unscrew it in order to remove it and clean it. Finally, pour a little bleach or drain cleaner, as both products contribute to a better cleaning. It is also important that the dirt removed is not returned to the can, but rather that it is placed in rubbish bags and then discarded, otherwise there is a risk of further clogging.

Sink obstructions

As with the symphony boat, the sink trap tends to accumulate a lot of dirt, especially grease and food debris. With the lack of constant maintenance, this becomes sediment that clogs the pipes.

Tackling the situation – instead of calling a plumber – requires locating the siphon under the sink and having a sweeper or container underneath it, then carefully unscrewing the lid to collect the water that will come out before checking what is causing the blockage.

Finally, clean the blockage using a wire and reassemble it in its original place.

Replace the insulation of a sink or bathtub

Although the time it takes to do this varies depending on the conditions of the bathroom, this kind of plumbing installation tends to be simple to perform; however, the basics of keeping the wash basin and bathtub joints clean require performing it without delay.

Basically, the job is to sanitize the joint by removing it and then cleaning the area to make it free of silicone residue; once the area is cleaned, the silicone is put back in. The fact that it can cause continuous problems requires that this work be carried out under the advice of a specialist.

Put new hoses

The complexity of this work means that you need to have specific plumbing tools and cut off the water flow in order to prevent accidents and uncomfortable situations. In the same way, it is imperative that the selected hoses match the ones mounted in the system since there is a variety of products of different widths and lengths.

The assembly process follows the following guidelines: take off the tap, after disconnecting the hose from the wall; taking care to tighten it strongly, place the new piece. It is essential to check that it is well fixed, otherwise water may leak.

Renew the bath sprinkler

The last recurrent plumbing incidence chosen for this delivery is among the easiest to solve, even, it is possible to do it without having any skill or knowledge; it will be enough to acquire a model compatible with the rest of the faucets and execute the replacement following the instructions that accompany these accessories. Despite the fact that this is a job with more aesthetic aims than solving breakdowns, opting for a bath sprinkler means greater efficiency and water savings.