This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates some common plumbing mistakes and how to avoid them. (See below for tools and steps.)
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Tools List for Avoiding Rookie Plumbing Mistakes:
- Strap wrench, for gripping fixtures without marring the finish
- Pipe wrench, which provides superior leverage for turning pipes and fittings
Steps for Avoiding Rookie Plumbing Mistakes:
1. To prevent pliers and wrenches from scratching the finish on plumbing fixtures, use a strap wrench.
2. Wrap the flexible strap around the fixture, securely lock the strap in place, then slowly pull on the handle to turn the fixture.
3. To prevent a pipe wrench from deforming a pipe, be sure the wrench contacts the pipe in three places: at the top jaw, at the bottom jaw, and at the back of the wrench.
4. When fastening plumbing fittings, such as radiant-floor heat plates, to the underside of a subfloor, be sure the screws or nails aren't too long or they'll poke through the surface of the finished floor above.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Avoid Rookie Plumbing Mistakes | Ask This Old House
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