28 Tips for Becoming a Master Plumber

Buy more than you need to save extra trips

No matter how carefully you plan, it seems like you always need another elbow or extra length of pipe. Save yourself a trip to the store and buy extra the first time. Then return what you don't use.

If you have to ask for help finding parts, it's easier if you have a photo or the original parts along.

One of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face is a clogged sink or tub drain. Most often, the culprit is simply a clump of hair that has become lodged in the drain. Add this inexpensive Zip-it Bath and Sink Hair Snare to your homeowners tool kit so you can remove the hair without the hassles of disassembling the plumbing. Just slide the tool into the drain opening and retract slowly. You might be surprised at the volume of hair the tool snags on its way out.

A pair of soft-jaw pliers are a must have for DIY plumbing repairs around your home. Many have made the mistake of tightening a new showerhead or other decorative item with a pair of pliers only to realize they just ruined its finish by scratching and gouging the new product with the tool. Soft-jaw pliers will eliminate this mistake from ever happening again. The dual-function pliers are fitted with removable rubber covers that protect your finished product during installation.

There have been several variations and improvements on the old adjustable wrench, but none of them seem to solve the two problems that are encountered most: jaw capacity that's too small and jaws that are too thick. That's why Channellock's new Xtra Slim Jaw WideAzz adjustable wrenches stand out.

The jaws are 40 percent thinner than on conventional adjustable wrenches. That makes them perfect for plumbing jobs where you need a thin wrench to hold the body of a compression or flare fitting while you tighten the nut with a second wrench. Also, these wrenches have an extra-large jaw capacity that works great for most household, automotive, small engine and yard equipment repairs.

Give your shower an instant face-lift by swapping out your existing showerhead, handle and tub spout for new ones. To make this a painless switch, buy a trim kit that uses the existing trim valve—you won't have to touch anything inside the wall. Before you buy, check the manufacturer's Web site for specs, styles and finishes. Also check your tub spout to see if it slips on or is threaded so you can buy the right replacement. You can buy complete trim kits or buy each component separately at home centers, plumbing suppliers and online retailers.

What it means: You've got a leak.
If all the faucets and plumbing fixtures in your house are turned off and the low-flow indicator on your water meter continues to measure running water, you're wasting water and money.

A great way to prevent leaks and floods is to regularly do a visual check of your plumbing system. Inspect pipes, fittings, supply hoses, shutoff valves and all water-using appliances for signs of corrosion or leaking. Fix small problems before they become big ones. And if you're going out of town for an extended period of time, shut off the water main (or well pump).

A basin wrench is a standard plumbing tool that is indispensable for removing and installing most faucets. The wrench allows you to reach into the cramped area behind the sink to loosen or tighten the nuts that hold the faucet to the sink, and the nuts that connect the supply lines. You may not need a basin wrench if you can get the old faucet out by cutting the nuts or if the new faucet includes a wrench or some other means of installing the faucet without a basin wrench. Check inside the package when you buy the faucet to see what's required. If you do need a basin wrench, you can find one at a hardware store or home center.

Your plumbing system includes “vent” pipes that pass through the roof. And like any other roof penetration, that sometimes means trouble. There are two kinds of flashing used to seal vents: a “boot” that relies on a snug rubber seal, and all-metal flashing with soft lead that can be bent over and into the pipe. Some versions are made completely from lead; others are galvanized steel with a lead collar. When any type of vent flashing fails, the solution is to replace it. To see how, read more on plumbing vent flashing.

Home centers don't always carry unusual materials. Try a full-service lumberyard for moldings, a tile shop for the widest selection of adhesives and grout, or a plumbing retailer to find the largest selection of fixtures or that unique faucet part you need.

I never had much luck augering toilets with those crooked, S-shaped handles that come with plumbing snakes. Instead, I cut my snake down to 6 ft. and made an adapter I can hook up to a cordless drill. Cut the head off a long lag bolt that'll thread inside the snake. Chuck the bolt into a cordless drill, and on the 'slow' setting, screw the lag bolt into the snake. The power auger will bust through the worst clogs. Go easy on the trigger; it doesn't have to spin fast.

A circular saw makes short work of pipe—any kind but cast iron. Use a fine-tooth carbide blade for PVC, ABS or copper. Choose a metal-cutting blade for cutting steel, such as fence posts, and metal plumbing pipe.

We had a chronically slow drain that resisted all the common drain cleaners. One day my wife came across an old container of Metamucil and had a brainstorm: If it cleans out people's 'pipes,' it should clear out plumbing, too. She dumped the whole container down the drain. The Metamucil absorbed water and expanded into a solid 10-ft.-long clog.

We tried liquid drain openers, a drain snake and even a big drill-powered snake, but none of them could penetrate the monster clog. Finally, I duct-taped a spoon to a pole and scooped the gelatinous mass out through the cleanout opening, spoonful by spoonful. It was like getting cranberry sauce out of a 10-ft.-long can.

You don't have to run to the neighbor's bathroom during a plumbing project. Before you turn off the water supply, fill 2-gallon buckets with water. Flush the toilet by dumping the water in the bowl. You'll get one flush per bucket. Works just as well as the usual method, although it won't refill the bowl.

If you're remodeling your kitchen or adding a bathroom, here's some advice you'll thank us for later: Choose ball-type shutoff valves instead of standard stop valves. Shutoff valves go unused for years. Standard valves have rubber washers that harden with time and other fussy parts that become caked with mineral deposits. Then—when the time comes to replace the faucet or fix the toilet—the valve won't seal off the water flow.

Ball valves are simpler inside. A ball with a hole through it opens and closes with a quarter turn. Fewer complex parts, fewer things to go wrong. Ball valves almost never let you down. This reliability costs you about 50 percent more than standard valves, but they're still well under 10 bucks. Ball valves are sometimes labeled 'quarter turn' valves. If you don't find them at a home center or a hardware store, call a plumbing supply store.

Gardening gloves with a rubbery coating are great for plumbing projects: They grip pipe like a vise and keep that nasty acid flux off your hands. But don't wear them while soldering; some coatings are flammable.