Teflon tape is very handy.
When most people think about helpful tape, they think about duct tape. Sure, duct tape is a great tool and should be considered a must-have in your tool shed or garage, but what about teflon tape?
Teflon tape can be very handy around the house - but you want to make sure that you know how to use it before you start trying to fix your plumbing problems with it. In this article, you'll find some tips and suggestions for using teflon tape in the most efficient and practical way possible. Doing so is simple: use it when it will help and keep it up on the shelf in the garage when you don't need it.
When is it a good idea to use teflon tape? It applies best to the "threaded" ends of pipes in order to make sure that the pipe is fully watertight. Consider it an extra layer that is designed to keep all of the moisture where it belongs - inside the pipe. For this reason, teflon works best when you're sealing off the ends the threaded ends of pipes. For more information on better using teflon tape, see this article at AcmeHowTo.com. Follow their instructions for properly applying teflon tape.
You'll also find some detailed instructions at Howsed.com's teflon tape suggestions. Note that Howsed's article also deals with pipe dope and channel locks, which are other ways of doing similar things to plumbing that teflon tape does.
When applying the teflon tape, you'll want to make sure to apply it clockwise, as Howsed.com describes, and also make sure that it is properly applied to the pipe - you don't want to apply it in the wrong direction or the wrong place.
Be thorough when you're working with teflon tape - and make sure that you're equipped to diagnose what problem needs teflon tape to begin with. When you're working on your plumbing yourself, you should have a basic knowledge of how all of these things work in order to make sure that you apply it properly - if you're unsure, be sure to ask a professional for some help. If you ever call in a plumber and want to eventually work on do-it-yourself projects, be sure to ask them specific questions - even if you bother them a little, you'll end up with some (hopefully) helpful tips you can use in the future.
Photo Credits: Aeturnum
Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:08:20.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 21, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
Water supply.
If you're not a home improvement professional or even a home improvement enthusiast, you might have noticed that many online articles telling you how to fix your plumbing problems will tell you to shut off your water supply first. This is obviously the correct way to go about fixing your plumbing, but what if you can't get past "step one" simply because you don't know how to shut off your water supply? Well, you've come to the right place. After reading this article, you should be equipped to find and shut off your water supply so that you remember it for next time.
Here are the basic steps:
- When in doubt, it's best to simply shut off the entire water supply to your home. This is actually relatively easy, and as long as you warn all of your family members that you'll be without water for a while, it should go relatively smoothly. To shut off your entire water supply, find your water meter - you can find a picture of one here. You should notice two valves at your water meter, one of which (the "supply side") comes to your house, supplying the water. Shut the valve off on this side by twisting the nozzle.
- Shutting off a "local" supply of water might be enough for simple tasks like fixing your toilet. In order to do this, you're going to have to find the individual valve feeding water to the appliance or fixture you're repairing. Locate the valve first - you should notice that it looks like the valves near your water main. If you're fixing a sink or a toilet, you probably won't have to look very far in order to shut off the local water supply. Twist the nozzle to shut the water off and you should be good to go.
- It's important to note quickly that shutting off the local valve in your shower or bath tub will be a little more difficult than shutting off a local valve for a sink or a toilet. You should be able to find a panel near your tub that will give you access to the valve, but when in doubt, you might want to simply shut off the water supply to your house.
That didn't take much, did it? Once you know how to shut off your water supply, you will find that most plumbing repair jobs are much easier.
Photo Credits: -{ Ariful H Bhuiyan }-
Originally posted 2009-10-13 03:12:10.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 24, 2010 in
home repair, water
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