As a homeowner, you need to know a little bit about your plumbing system so you can tackle small issues quickly. Whether it be low water pressure or a clogged drain in your kitchen, knowing what to do helps protect your home and plumbing system.
However, you need to prioritize safety any time you work on your plumbing system. There are many different considerations when it comes to plumbing, so incorporating plumbing safety practices is vital.
Let Brooklyn’s certified emergency plumbers explain some key plumbing safety tips below.
1. Prioritize Personal Safety
DIY plumbing safety starts with protecting yourself. Plumbing hazard prevention is necessary whenever you are dealing with wastewater or potentially hazardous materials.
Put on safety glasses to protect your eyes, wear tear-resistant gloves, and consider long sleeves and pants. If you are doing any sort of drilling, grinding, or drain cleaning, protecting your skin can prevent injury and even illness if water contamination is present.
2. Find a Buddy
You should always enlist the help of a family member or friend when you are working on house projects. This is not only a good idea in terms of safety, but it is always helpful to have an extra set of hands. If something goes wrong or a leak springs up unexpectedly, that extra person can quickly switch off the water supply or call for help.
3. Know Your System
Understanding your plumbing system is one of the most important aspects of home plumbing safety. Learning about the different aspects of your pipes will help you troubleshoot any issues much faster. For example, you should know:
- How old your system is
- The material of your pipes
- Where your water valves are and what they control
- How to turn on different parts of your water supply
- Where the electrical lines are in your home
If you know this information, you can tackle problems in your Brooklyn home more confidently and precisely.
4. Be Ready to Identify the Water in Your Brooklyn Home
Plumbing systems are complex, and three different kinds of water flow through them. Each one requires special considerations to keep yourself safe.
White water
White water comes out of your freshwater lines, like your sink or fridge’s water dispenser. This type of water is safe to handle, but only if it is freshly flowing out of your faucets. The longer white water sits on your floor, the higher the chance that bacteria will start to grow on the surface.
Gray Water
Gray water is what white water turns into after it flows down your drain. After you wash your hands, rinse off vegetables, or bathe your dog, that wastewater flows into your drain as gray water, and it can be dangerous if you aren’t careful with it.
Black Water
Black water is the water that flows through your toilet system and contains raw sewage. The plumbing safety guidelines around black water are very clear: do not touch black water unless you are a trained professional and have the proper safety gear.
5. Follow Your Nose
Whenever you deal with your plumbing system, there are bound to be smells that pop up during your investigation. Contaminated or black water is identified by the rancid smell it produces. You should also track down the source of any musty or earthy odors in your Brooklyn home, as that could indicate a mold infestation caused by a water leak.
One of the most important plumbing safety tips is to learn what a gas leak smells like. While water and gas lines aren’t always near each other, any sort of structural damage to your home can damage multiple lines. If you smell sulfur or rotten eggs, leave your home immediately and call 911.
6. Know Your Limits
If you follow these plumbing safety tips, having a working knowledge of your plumbing system can come in handy for minor issues. However, know when you have hit your limit. Plumbing maintenance safety only takes you so far, so make sure you have access to a professional plumbing team when you need it.
Lean on a Plumbing Professional for Your Brooklyn Home
Are you looking for a quick and reliable repair for your plumbing system? Let the responsive team at Consider It Done Plumbing LLC handle your plumbing problems. Call us today at 646-992-9030 to learn more about how we can help with your plumbing renovations and relocations and get plumbing safety tips.