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Handy Plumbing TipsDo you have a tip? Send it to us - luke@plumberschoice.com.auEach selected tip featured in our newsletter wins a $200 store voucher!!!
Remove Cured Silicone
I have used Red Back Silicone Clean Up for some years now. I find it a useful thing to keep in the van. I mostly use it to clean up when installing basin and sink wastes. What I found out recently is that it is useful for removing cured silicone. Simply dampen a rag with the product and hold it on the silicone you want to remove. I hold it there for about a minute. It softened the cured silicone enough to scratch off with my fingernail.
Thanks Rob Anderson (Edition 120)
Easy Dishwasher Installation
Most plumbers would know that when you go to an existing house to put a dishwasher in you have to remove the trap to drill the nipple out. What I worked out is if you get a plumtool trap drill from you guys and a little right angle drill you can actually drill the nipple out for the dishwasher drain without removing the trap. So you don't get old trap rubbers leaking on you.
Thanks Ryan Berryman (Edition 119)
Pex Pipe Cross Connections Solution
The boss just put on an apprentice who has been working with me. He is a good kid and is learning quickly but, while doing a few two storey rough ins together, we had a couple of cross connections on the pex pipe. We tried a couple different solutions, one was to duct tape the end of the hot tail. Another was marking it with ground marking spray. We reckon we have settled on the best way so here is my 'tip of the month'. We now cut the end of the hot tail at a 45 degree angle. No mess, no confusion. Very simple. We haven't had another cross connection. It is also much cheaper then buying a coil of red Pex.
Thanks Mick Ricardo (Edition 118)
New Design of Soaker Flashings
Many roof plumbers would have installed soaker flashings under tiles that look like this:
Damien has sent us a picture of the design he now uses (see above)
The advantages are as follows:
- Tile is well supported by the middle up-stand, so it looks good.- Tiles are cut back to the middle fold, this allows a good clearance for water flows.- Leaves wash down the soaker instead of being caught, creating blockages and water leaks.- The extra width ensures rain cannot be blown under the roof tiles.
Thanks Damien Marshal (Edition 117)
Drilling Through Plastic With A Hole Saw
Using a hole saw to drill a hole in a storm water pit, channel grate or PVC spreader can sometimes be tricky due to the way it can grab and stick o the surface. No matter if you drill on high speed or low speed, the same problem arises. I recently discovered that by drilling in reverse, it completely alleviates this problem. No grabbing or sticking. A completely smooth process for drilling with a hole saw in plastic or PVC.
Thanks Brett - T & L Ingamells Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Edition 116)
Storing Sewer Cables
Store those sewer cables in old tyres and just roll them to where you need them. No longer do you have to carry those heavy cages with cables straight out of the sewer dripping all over you. Each tyre will hold four cables.
Thanks Mark - Eastridge Plumbing (Edition 115)
Water Tank Installation
Have you ever had a water tank installation subside on the base slightly and pop out the overflow pipe? Save yourself unnecessary callout by cutting out a 50mm long piece of the overflow pipe, fit a rubber repair coupling and only tighten the lower hose clamp. This will allow up to 50mm of downwards movement before any pressure is put on the overflow assembly. I always do this on every new tank install and it has saved me countless call backs. $11 dollar fitting vs unhappy customer and wasted precious time when I could be doing tax stuff!!
Thanks Richard Weston (Edition 114)
Internal Pipe Cutting
When using an internal pipe cutter on a pipe in the ground, always carry a rag to push down into the pipe before you start, so if the drill drops the cutter you can get it back easily.Talking from experience!
Thanks Mark (Edition 113)
Reseated Taps
Have you ever had a time when you have reseated a set of taps that have had their seats polished a handful of times before you get there? The tap handles are already close to the flanges making it impossible to turn off. Quarter turn taps aren’t an option either.So if you don't carry spacers, this tip will keep a smile on your customer’s dial. If you use #1752 as your ordinary tap washer you can get a chisel and separate the plastic from the stalk. This will leave you a perfect spacer giving your handles 3-5 millimetres extra travel. If the seat is really deep, you can use two plastic washer pieces to get you out of trouble. And they won’t break down over timelike rubber washers often do.
Thanks Simon Davis (Edition 112)
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