Plumbing

PLUMBING

Make sure you know where the main stopcock is for your house in case of any emergencies. Also open and close the stopcock every few weeks to make sure that it is working properly.

All metal pipework used in plumbing and heating a house must be earthed using screw-on clamps designed for the purpose. If there is any doubt, a qualified electrician should be asked to test it.

If a water leak is coming from a compression fitting, slightly turn each nut on the fitting. Do not over-tighten it as this may well be crushing the olive inside the joint and the leak will be even worse. A quarter of a turn on either nut should be the maximum applied.

If adding to the pipework in your house, all horizontal pipes should slope away from the main vent pipe to prevent air becoming trapped in the system as they will clear upwards through the vent.

If working above a drain in a sink, bath or shower, simple though it sounds it is always worth putting the plug in the plughole to prevent small parts disappearing when you least require it.