For most major leaks you will need a professional plumber to fix the issue, but being able to turn off the water supply beforehand can help to avoid additional damage. It is recommended that everyone in your household know how to shut off the main water supply valve in case of a sudden leak.

 With a high concentration of plumbing fixtures, bathrooms are often the source of plumbing issues in your home. Most household toilets, sinks, showers and bath tubs are used frequently so occasional issues are not uncommon. Understanding how these plumbing fixtures work is the first step in understanding what is causing the problem.

 Whenever the flush handle of a toilet is pushed down, it opens a flush valve in the bottom of the water tank. This allows water to rush down into the toilet bowl, carrying waste into a large drain pipe hidden in the floor. As the water level in the tank drops during a flush, it opens a fill valve to refill the tank to a preset water level, ready for the next flush. The water that remains in a toilet bowl after flushing seals out sewer gases and prevents them from entering your home.

 Potential trouble spots for a toilet include the water supply connection to the water tank, the gasket that seals the toilet to the floor drain, the gasket that seals the tank to the bowl, and the flush valve and fill valve inside the tank.

 Not all new toilets flush as well as they should, and that’s why you should consult independent testing to choose an effective model. An organization called MaP publishes performance results from hundreds of toilets available around the world. Click here for free recommendations on finding a new toilet that flushes cleanly.

 These are usually replaced as part of a bathroom renovation or vanity cabinet replacement. Bathroom sinks can be a molded part of the vanity cabinet top, they can be under-mounted to the bottom face of the countertop or they can be mounted on top of the vanity top resting in a hole cut on site during installation. You’ll need to get your plumber involved early on in your bathroom renovations to determine if pipe and drain locations need to be changed.

 Most tubs offer the opportunity to take either a bath or shower and feature a combination faucet that includes taps, a tub spout and a shower head. Access to the hidden valve assembly is sometimes found through the wall on the other side of the tub.

 Use caulking solvent and a scraper to remove all old caulking, then apply masking tape along each side of the joint, 3mm or 4mm (1/8” to 3/16”) from the centre line. Apply a bead of caulking between the pieces of tape, then smooth the caulking with your index finger wetted with a 50/50 mixture of water and dishwashing liquid. Peel the tape off immediately and leave the caulking to dry for 24 hours before using the shower.

 The kitchen is the centre of most homes, and plumbing has a lot to do with the reason why. Preparing and serving food and cleaning up afterwards depends largely on plumbing. Kitchens also have the greatest number of water-related technologies at work. In addition to faucets and drains, you might also have a dishwasher, a fridge with water dispenser, and maybe even laundry equipment in the kitchen.

 Potential trouble spots for a kitchen sink and faucet include dripping faucet (most common), leaks where the sink meets the counter top, leaking drain pipes, leaking connection between the water supply pipes and the faucet, a clogged drain, or a malfunctioning garbage disposal or hot water dispenser.

 Most faucets and taps made until the 1970s used a small disk of rubber called a “washer” to stop the flow of water when the hot or cold tap handle was shut off. The faucet mechanism closes down and squeezes against the washer, sealing off the space for water to flow through. Eventually the washer gets old, brittle and cracked, allowing a small flow of water even when the handle is tightened down fully. Inexpensive replacement washers are still available in any hardware store to stop dripping, even for very old faucets. Most modern faucets don’t have washers but use a replaceable valve cartridge instead. When these leak, the only practical solution is to replace the cartridge. Both washer and cartridge replacement is something that a handy homeowner could complete themselves.

 The lack of an air vent is the leading cause of a sink drain that makes gurgling sounds as the water goes down. Adding an air admittance valve to the drain pipe may solves the problem. Not every jurisdiction allows air admittance valves, but they can work well and are relatively easy to install. If you are experiencing a gurgling drain, call a licensed plumber to see if an air admittance valve is an option.

 All dishwashers have a connection to the drain (usually under the kitchen sink), but most only have an inlet for a hot water supply. Since dishwashers don’t have cold or warm cycles, a hot water feed is all that’s needed. This hot water feed usually taps into the supply pipe near the kitchen faucet. The only exception to this are high-end dishwashers with internal water heating capabilities. These might have a cold-only connection or they might heat the already-hot water to a higher temperature.

 If your dishwasher fails to get your dishes, glasses and cutlery as clean is you’d like, and it appears to be running well in other ways, try running your kitchen faucet until the water is hot before each dish washer load. These days dishwashers use so little water that they might not actually get to the completely hot water from the hot water supply pipe. Running the kitchen hot water tap until the water gets hot can improve dishwashing results by eliminating the residual cold.

 Depending on how much drinking water you take from your fridge, the filter may need to be changed every six months to a year. Most fridges have a warning light to alert you when filter needs changing, but you might not get around to this right away. Be sure to check the manufactures recommended replacement cycle and mark the installation date on the filter label before installation so you know at a glance how long it’s been in place.

 Leone Plumbing Residential Plumbing GuideMost households rely on residential plumbing for day-to-day chores such as cleaning the toilet, washing dishes, laundry, bathing, and more. A few hours with no running water or clogged drains can be a serious problem for a household. Getting caught off guard with plumbing issues will cause you so much stress. This residential plumbing guide will provide you with basic tips to resolve or prevent some plumbing problems in your home.

 Do a routinary inspection of exposed pipes for signs of wear and tear that causes leaking. You can rub a compound stick for tiny leaks in pipes. A compound stick is available at most hardware stores.

 Avoid planting trees near the sewer lines because the roots can be a source of damage. We also suggest periodically snake the lines. If the roots have seriously damaged your sewer lines, let an experienced master plumber fix the problem. Do not fix it on your own as you may also damage other plumbing systems and will lead to civil lawsuits.

 Remember that clogs of today are the result of yesterday’s mistake. Keep debris from drains and be watchful of what goes down. Educate your household with proper plumbing maintenance. Set up house rules like what to flush and what not flush on the toilet.

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 Avoid the corrosive pipe cleaning solution as it can lessen the pipe’s longevity. Go for an enzyme-based cleaner that introduces bacteria into the plumbing. The bacteria do the natural break down of clog into a liquid to expel it easily. The bacteria do the job naturally without destroying the pipes.

 Since water expands as it freezes, it causes the pipe to explode. We advise you to insulate your pipes in the winter. This is often neglected by many people causing the pipes to get broken each year.

 Good residential plumbing plays a healthy role in maintaining cleanliness in a home. A not well maintained residential plumbing may result in sanitary issues that can harm your family’s health. We hope that these residential plumbing guide tips will help you in resolving basic plumbing issues. If you want to know more about our service, please feel free to contact us today. Photo Credits: Pixabay, Canva

 Plumbing is an unseen but critical part of your home. This complex network of pipes, fixtures, and appliances works to remove waste and deliver clean water, helping you to meet your daily needs and keep your home functional.

 Whether you’re building a new house or maintaining an existing one, taking time to understand your home’s plumbing system can help you make key decisions and spot potential issues. Our guide breaks down the essentials of residential plumbing, including the basic components plus advanced technologies and best practices.

 Your home’s plumbing system is composed of three main systems: the supply line network, the drainage system, and the venting system. Each plays a crucial role in keeping water running in and out of your home.

 The supply line network brings clean water into your home from the municipal water supply or a private well. This system operates under pressure to deliver water to all of the different fixtures and appliances throughout your house. It ensures that multiple fixtures can function simultaneously, maintaining sufficient water flow and pressure throughout the home.

 The drainage system carries wastewater and sewage away from your house. Unlike supply lines, drain pipes rely on gravity to move water. These pipes are larger in diameter and are typically made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic in modern homes, though older homes may have cast iron drains.

 Because the drain system relies on gravity, drain pipes usually must be sloped. Generally, drain pipes should have a slope of one-quarter of an inch per foot to facilitate the proper flow of wastewater. This slope helps prevent clogs and ensures that waste materials move smoothly through the pipes toward the main sewer line or septic system.

 Vent pipes allow air to enter the drainage system, preventing vacuums from forming that could slow or stop water from flowing down your drain lines. Proper venting ensures that each fixture has its own air supply, which you need to prevent losing water seals in plumbing traps under your sinks and toilets, preventing sewer gases from entering your home.

 As This Old House plumbing expert Richard Trethewey explains, “When you pull the plug on a bathtub, you’ve got 40 gallons of water that wants to scream down that pipe. If there’s a vacuum, it can pull the water out of all the traps in the house.”

 Pipes are the highways of your plumbing system, carrying water to and from fixtures. Fittings connect pipes, change direction, or adapt pipe sizes. Common materials for pipes include copper, PVC, PEX, and ABS. Each material has specific fittings designed to ensure secure, leak-proof connections.

 Fixtures are the end-points of your plumbing system—think sinks, toilets, showers, and bathtubs. Appliances like dishwashers and washing machines also connect to your plumbing. Modern fixtures often incorporate water-saving features to promote conservation. For example, dual-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads can significantly reduce water usage without compromising performance.

 Valves control water flow within your plumbing system. The main shutoff valve can stop water flow to the entire house, while individual fixture shutoffs allow for isolated repairs. “Individual shutoffs allow you to quickly isolate a problem without cutting the water supply to the rest of your house,” says Tretheway. Your system needs this ability to control water flow at various points so you can perform maintenance and repairs without disrupting the entire household.

 Both PVC and ABS are popular choices for drain pipes. PVC is more flexible, while ABS is more impact-resistant. The choice often depends on local codes and personal preference, as both perform well in residential applications.

 Copper has been popular for water supply lines for decades due to its durability and natural antimicrobial properties. However, PEX has gained popularity for its flexibility, ease of installation, and freeze-resistance. PEX is often less expensive than copper and can be a good choice for new construction or repiping projects. PEX’s flexibility allows it to be snaked through walls and around obstacles without the need for multiple fittings, reducing potential leak points.